A Yankees game turned into a life-changing injury for Stephanie Duluc, and now she’s taking the team, stadium operators, and netting manufacturers to court for $10 million.
Duluc, 37, was sitting in the fourth row behind home plate on June 2 when Cleveland Guardians infielder Jose Ramirez lost control of his bat on a swing. The bat cleared the netting, struck her in the head, and knocked her from her seat to the ground. The lawsuit says the impact came with tremendous force.
Duluc works as chief of staff at Bronx-based SOMOS Community Care, but her attorney says she still cannot return to her professional duties. The complaint says she suffered a traumatic brain injury and concussion, along with severe light sensitivity and permanent damage to her neck and hands. Her ongoing symptoms include persistent headaches, balance issues, and cognitive impairments.
The suit also says she remains limited in daily life, despite a brief appearance on local television in late July. Her lawyer argues that appearance does not mean she has recovered, and says residual deficits continue to affect her function.
At the center of the case is the protection in her section of Yankee Stadium. The lawsuit alleges the screen behind home plate was significantly lower than the netting in adjacent areas, leaving an opening that allowed the bat through. The complaint says proper netting would have stopped it.
That detail matters because premium seats behind home plate are considered among the highest-risk spots for flying objects. Courts often rely on the baseball rule, which generally shields teams when adequate protections are in place. Duluc’s case challenges whether the netting in her section met those standards.
Live broadcasts captured the bat flying into the stands, and announcers reacted to the danger as it happened. Stadium safety has been a recurring issue around MLB, with expanded netting coming after earlier foul-ball and broken-bat injuries at multiple parks. This lawsuit adds another test of how far teams still need to go to protect fans sitting close to the action.
The Yankees and the netting companies have not publicly detailed their response. Duluc is seeking compensation for medical costs, lost earnings, and lasting harm. The case is moving forward in Manhattan federal court.
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