The Detroit Tigers are now dealing with a lawsuit tied to a July collision at Comerica Park, with Athletics utility player Zack Gelof claiming unsafe fencing led to a knee injury that derailed part of his 2026 season.
Gelof filed the complaint on Sept. 28 in Wayne County Circuit Court, naming the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings Inc. and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority as defendants, according to Reuters. The case centers on a July 9 play in left field, when Gelof went after a foul ball and ran into the side-wall fencing.
Detroit confirmed Tuesday that it was aware of the filing. In the lawsuit, Gelof sought unspecified damages and said the injury caused physical, professional and financial harm. The complaint lays out his version of what happened and what he says the defendants failed to do; it does not determine liability.
At the time of the incident, Gelof was in left field in the third inning and made a sliding catch near the foul line. His momentum carried him into the fenced section of the wall, and he exited the game after the collision.
The suit says his right knee hit exposed metal, ripping his uniform and leaving a deep laceration beneath the kneecap. FOX 2’s reporting on the lawsuit said the cut came close to his patellar tendon.
The Athletics put Gelof on the 10-day injured list on July 10 with a right knee laceration, according to MLB’s transaction log. He did not get back into a Major League lineup until Aug. 10.
That missed stretch is a key part of the damages claim. His lawyers say he was out of professional baseball for about 30 days and continued to deal with effects from the injury after returning.
The complaint also takes aim at the condition of the fencing itself. Gelof’s attorneys brought claims for premises liability, negligence and negligent design and construction, according to WDIV’s account, and also asserted a claim against the Stadium Authority under Michigan’s public-building exception to governmental immunity.
According to the filing, the fence did not provide enough protection or clearance in an area where players could reasonably be expected to run or slide. The complaint says the defendants failed to fix the problem through repairs, redesign or added protection.
It also alleges padding was added within weeks of the collision. WDIV reported that the complaint included an August photo said to show the area after padding had been installed. Attorney Jon Marko argued that basic protection could have prevented the injury.
Those are Gelof’s allegations, not findings. The Tigers did not address the substance of the claims when the matter first surfaced.
"We are aware of the lawsuit and do not comment on pending litigation," the team said Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.
The lawsuit seeks medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages and other economic losses, emotional distress and attorney fees. No dollar figure was listed.
What began as a summer injury now has turned into a legal fight over the safety of Comerica Park’s left-field setup, with Gelof’s absence already over but the dispute over the fencing still playing out.
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