Oakland Athletics infielder Zack Gelof sues Detroit Tigers over knee cut from exposed metal at Comerica Park

Oakland Athletics infielder and outfielder Zack Gelof sued the Detroit Tigers on Monday, saying exposed metal fencing at Comerica Park cut open his knee during a game and kept him out of Major League Baseball for about a month.

Gelof, 26, filed the complaint in Wayne County Circuit Court against the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings Inc. and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority. The lawsuit centers on a July 9 game in Detroit, where Gelof said he was injured while making a sliding catch in left field.

According to the complaint, Gelof caught a fly ball in the third inning and slid toward the side wall. His right knee struck metal fencing that the lawsuit says protruded into or alongside the playing area. The complaint describes the fence as "rigid, sharp, inadequately protected" and located where players could be expected to run or slide at speed.

The collision tore his uniform and caused a deep cut below his kneecap that narrowly missed the patellar tendon, the lawsuit said. Gelof was taken out of the game and missed roughly 30 days, which the complaint says damaged his career, playing time and future earnings.

The lawsuit says the fencing lacked enough padding and clearance from the field and "created an unreasonable risk of collision and laceration." It says the defendants failed to inspect, repair, redesign, relocate or guard the area, or to warn players about the danger.

Gelof's attorney, Jon Marko, pointed to a photograph taken at Comerica Park in August showing padding installed over the same spot where Gelof was hurt. The complaint argues that the later fix shows the hazard could have been corrected easily before the injury.

"All they had to do was put cheap padding up like they did after Zack was injured and this entire incident could have been avoided," Marko said. "My son's little league diamond is safer."

Marko also called the placement of bare metal close to the field an obvious danger.

"It doesn't take a stadium design expert to realize that sharp metal fencing in an area where players are required to slide and play around is a recipe for disaster like the one that occurred here," he said.

The complaint brings claims of premises liability, negligence and negligent design and construction. It also names the stadium authority under Michigan's public-building exception to governmental immunity. Gelof's lawyers say the injury cost him playing time, statistics, development and possible future contract value.

The lawsuit seeks damages for physical injuries, economic losses, medical expenses and other costs. It does not name a dollar amount.

The Tigers and the stadium authority have not publicly responded to the complaint as of Monday.