Athletics outfielder Zack Gelof is suing the Detroit Tigers, claiming the team's negligence in maintaining safe playing conditions by having a metal fence in foul territory that cut his knee while making a sliding catch, forcing him out of action for a month.

In a July 9, 2026 game between the Athletics and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, Gelof was chasing a foul ball from his position in left field, making a sliding catch and the colliding with the exposed metal fence with his right knee, tearing his uniform and suffering a cut that "nearly missed his patella tendon," the complaint, filed in Wayne County Circuit Court in Michigan, said.

In the suit, Gelof alleges that the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings, and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority's use of the metal fence along the field's boundaries in foul territory was dangerous and had insufficient padding or protective material covering the metal and created an unreasonable risk of injury.

Shortly after Gelof's catch and injury, padding was installed over the metal fencing at Comerica Park, the suit says.

After making the catch, Gelof left the game and was subsequently placed on the 10-day Injured List with a knee laceration. He was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas on a rehab assignment on Aug. 4 and returned to the Athletics on Aug. 10, having missed a month of MLB action.

The suit does not ask for a specific amount of monetary damages, instead, Gelof and his attorneys seek "an amount that will fairly compensate him for his damages; for costs of this action; for pre- and post-judgment interest; attorney fees; and for all other just and proper relief."

Gelof is represented by Gasper Stare and Jonathan R. Marko of Marko Law, PLLC, in Detroit. The case, captioned Zachary Gelof v. Detroit Tigers, Inc. et al., was filed in Michigan on Sept. 28.