Former big leaguer Darin Ruf returned to the limelight on Thursday night, a little less than two years after his last MLB game.
The former Phillies, Giants, Mets, and Brewers first baseman and outfielder submitted a legal filing against the Reds, asserting that the organization be held liable for punitive and compensatory damages after he sustained a severe injury in a match with Cincinnati in 2023.
Here’s what you need to know.
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Darin Ruf lawsuit, explained
Ruf is seeking damages for the career-ending injury he suffered after crashing into an uncovered tarp roller at Great American Ballpark in 2023.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Hamilton County (Ohio), charges the Reds with negligence, claiming the organization failed to maintain safety standards.
Ruf was playing first base for the Brewers when they traveled to Cincinnati on June 2, 2023. In the third inning of the matchup, Ruf sold out for a pop out in foul territory when his knee collided with the end of an unpadded tarp roller.
Ruf’s complaint states that the collision led to “permanent and substantial deformities to his knee.” He was summarily placed on the 60-game injured list and never played in MLB again.
“This was an obvious and avoidable risk,” Ruf’s attorney, Tad Thomas, said in a release. “There are basic safety protocols every MLB team should follow. Leaving an unpadded metal roller on the edge of the field is inexcusable.”
The filing asserts that the Reds failed to take adequate precautions to keep the playing surface safe. It also declares Cincinnati culpable of the “reckless” actions of the grounds crew.
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Darin Ruf stats
Ruf enjoyed a nine-year career in the bigs, enjoying stints with Philadelphia, San Francisco, Milwaukee, and the Mets. He also played in Japan from 2017-19. He wasn’t a particularly gifted fielder or runner, but his bat was solid, as he posted a career 108 OPS+ across 1,469 plate appearances.
Here’s a closer look at his figures over the course of his career.
| Games | PA | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | BA | OBP | SLG |
| 581 | 1690 | 1469 | 198 | 351 | 67 | 205 | 6 | .239 | .329 | .427 |
