CINCINNATI – Former Major League Baseball player Darin Ruf has filed a lawsuit against the Cincinnati Reds, claiming a 2023 injury at Great American Ballpark ended his career.
Ruf, who was playing first base for the Milwaukee Brewers on June 2, 2023, sustained serious injuries after colliding with an unpadded tarp roller while chasing a foul ball. According to the lawsuit, he fractured his kneecap, suffered a deep knee laceration, and was left with lasting damage to his knee. He was removed from the game, placed on the 60-day injured list, and never returned to the majors after a nine-year career.
Filed Thursday in Ohio’s Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, the suit accuses the Reds of negligence for failing to ensure safe playing conditions. It highlights the absence of protective padding on the tarp roller, which allegedly left sharp metal parts exposed.
Ruf, who played from 2012 to 2023 with the Phillies, Giants, Mets, and Brewers, ended his MLB career with a .239 average, 67 home runs, 205 RBIs, and a .756 OPS over 581 games. He also spent three seasons in the KBO with the Samsung Lions.
“This was preventable,” said Ruf, 38. “I wish it hadn’t happened. Players shouldn’t face hidden dangers on a professional field.”
Ruf is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.
“This was a clear and unnecessary hazard,” said his attorney, Tad Thomas. “Every MLB team has a responsibility to follow basic safety standards. Leaving a bare metal roller near the field is unacceptable.”
