Former Phillies Slugger Suing NL Ballclub Over Alleged Safety Violation

While tarp rollers are commonly tucked along foul territory in major league ballparks, Ruf's complaint is that this one was unpadded and covered only by an advertisement. His lawsuit includes charges for negligence by the Reds' grounds crew for unsafe playing conditions.

"This was an obvious and avoidable risk," prosecuting attorney Tad Thomas said in a statement. "There are basic safety protocols every MLB team should follow. Leaving an unpadded metal roller on the edge of the field is inexcusable."

Ruf was originally drafted by the Phillies in 2009 and made his major league debut three years later. As he was blocked by Ryan Howard at first base, he transitioned into a corner outfield role.

However, Ruf's Philly tenure ultimately ended up being unremarkable, with 35 home runs and 96 RBI over parts of five seasons. It ended with a campaign split between the majors and Triple-A, then he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers and subsequently cut.

After spending three years overseas playing ball in the KBO, Ruf was offered a spring training invite by the San Francisco Giants in 2021. He made the club and bounced around for a few more seasons before the injury.

There isn't exactly a precedent for this type of lawsuit. Mac Williamson, a former Giants outfielder, and Dustin Fowler, a New York Yankees prospect, both previously filed suits related to injuries they sustained due to field conditions. The results of both cases are not public.