Former MLB slugger Darin Ruf is taking legal action against the Cincinnati Reds , alleging negligence that he says brought his professional baseball career to a devastating end. Ruf claims that a serious injury he sustained during a June 2023 game at Great American Ball Park was not just unfortunate—it was preventable.
How a tarp roller may have cost Darin Ruf his MLB career and sparked a major lawsuit
The incident occurred on June 2, 2023, while Darin Ruf, then with the Milwaukee Brewers , was playing first base. As he chased down a foul pop-up near the right-field line, he collided with an uncovered tarp roller situated next to the field—an object described in court filings as a sharp-edged, unpadded metal hazard. The collision left a visible bloodstain on Ruf’s right knee, and though he initially walked off under his own power, the damage was far worse than it appeared.
The lawsuit, filed in Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, states that the injury led to "permanent and substantial deformities to his knee," effectively ending his career. Ruf, who played in MLB for teams like the Phillies, Giants, Mets, and Brewers, is now seeking both punitive and compensatory damages. His legal team accuses the Reds’ grounds crew and the organization itself of failing to provide a safe working environment for players.
"This didn't need to happen," Ruf said in a statement. "I wish it didn't happen. Players shouldn't have to worry about hidden hazards like that on a major league field."
His attorney, Tad Thomas, emphasized the seriousness of the oversight: "This was an obvious and avoidable risk. There are basic safety protocols every MLB team should follow. Leaving an unpadded metal roller on the edge of the field is inexcusable."
At the time of the incident, Ruf was nearing his 37th birthday and had only just joined the Brewers after brief stints with the Giants and Mets earlier that year. Despite appearing in seven games for Milwaukee’s Triple-A affiliate later that season, he never returned to a major league field.
Ruf, once hailed for tying Sammy Sosa’s record of 20 home runs in a calendar month in the minors, now finds his career halted not by age or performance—but, he alleges, by a preventable accident. As the lawsuit unfolds, it casts a spotlight on field safety in professional sports and the unseen dangers that can alter careers in an instant.
Also Read: How Jasson Domínguez's walk-off homer saved the Yankees from another tough loss against the Rangers
How a tarp roller may have cost Darin Ruf his MLB career and sparked a major lawsuit
The incident occurred on June 2, 2023, while Darin Ruf, then with the Milwaukee Brewers , was playing first base. As he chased down a foul pop-up near the right-field line, he collided with an uncovered tarp roller situated next to the field—an object described in court filings as a sharp-edged, unpadded metal hazard. The collision left a visible bloodstain on Ruf’s right knee, and though he initially walked off under his own power, the damage was far worse than it appeared.
Former MLB player Darin Ruf is suing the Cincinnati Reds for damages after he suffered a career-ending injury while crashing into an uncovered tarp roller at Great American Ball Park two years ago. https://t.co/zZsMeER9Te
— ESPN (@espn) May 22, 2025
The lawsuit, filed in Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, states that the injury led to "permanent and substantial deformities to his knee," effectively ending his career. Ruf, who played in MLB for teams like the Phillies, Giants, Mets, and Brewers, is now seeking both punitive and compensatory damages. His legal team accuses the Reds’ grounds crew and the organization itself of failing to provide a safe working environment for players.
"This didn't need to happen," Ruf said in a statement. "I wish it didn't happen. Players shouldn't have to worry about hidden hazards like that on a major league field."
His attorney, Tad Thomas, emphasized the seriousness of the oversight: "This was an obvious and avoidable risk. There are basic safety protocols every MLB team should follow. Leaving an unpadded metal roller on the edge of the field is inexcusable."
At the time of the incident, Ruf was nearing his 37th birthday and had only just joined the Brewers after brief stints with the Giants and Mets earlier that year. Despite appearing in seven games for Milwaukee’s Triple-A affiliate later that season, he never returned to a major league field.
Ruf, once hailed for tying Sammy Sosa’s record of 20 home runs in a calendar month in the minors, now finds his career halted not by age or performance—but, he alleges, by a preventable accident. As the lawsuit unfolds, it casts a spotlight on field safety in professional sports and the unseen dangers that can alter careers in an instant.
Also Read: How Jasson Domínguez's walk-off homer saved the Yankees from another tough loss against the Rangers
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