Athletics standout Zack Gelof is pursuing legal action against the Detroit Tigers.
The 26-year-old Gelof filed a 16-page lawsuit against the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings, and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority because of injuries he sustained while sliding to catch a foul ball during a game at Detroit’s Comerica Park in July.
Gelof, who hit .256 with 22 home runs and a .796 OPS in 2026, slammed his knee into exposed metal fencing along the wall he slid into, which caused a laceration that ultimately forced him to miss about a month of action.
Gelof’s complaint alleged that there was insufficient padding, a risk of players colliding with the structure, and a failure to warn players about the potential hazard.
The lawsuit, which was filed on Monday, also said the Tigers either knew or should have known that a player could collide with the fencing. It also noted that protective padding was installed after Gelof’s injury, suggesting that the team realized something should be done to address it.
It’s currently unclear how much in damages Gelof is seeking in the lawsuit, but he is seeking monetary compensation for the time he was forced to miss because of the injury.
Some will tell what comes of this lawsuit. Regardless, the A’s better make sure to not have any exposed metal fencing along the walls of the new stadium they’re building in Las Vegas.
