Reds Face Lawsuit From Ex-MLB Star After Major Negligence From Franchise Ends Playing Career

As the 2025 season unfolds, it’s becoming clear that the league’s most pressing stories aren’t just playing out on the field. But they’re being written in courtrooms. Just a few days ago, the Rockies found themselves entangled in a legal battle with a disgruntled fan. Now, another MLB franchise is facing the same. This time, it’s the Reds, who got into controversy as a former major leaguer files a lawsuit, alleging the team’s negligence led to a career-ending injury. Yes, that’s it, that’s the news!

So, it seems like as the 2025 season progresses, the action off the diamond is proving just as dramatic. Well, if not more so, than what’s unfolding between the foul lines. In a year already marred by legal headlines and front-office turbulence, the game’s integrity and player safety are once again under scrutiny. This is a reminder to the fans that sometimes, the biggest stories aren’t found in the box scores.

Well, the lawsuit was filed by former Brewers slugger Darin Ruf. So, according to the lawsuit, Ruf alleges suffering severe harm in 2023 after colliding with an unpadded metal tarp roller at Great American Ball Park. The suit also accuses the Reds of failing to maintain safe field conditions. You might have seen tarp rollers casually placed along the fence. Hence, this charge could have broader implications for stadium safety across MLB.

“I wish it didn’t happen. Players shouldn’t have to worry about hidden hazards like that on a major-league field,” Ruf added in his lawsuit.

For starters, the incident occurred on June 2, 2023, during a game between the Reds and Brewers. Ruf chased down a foul pop fly off the bat of Kevin Newman. But he collided at full speed with a tarp and an unpadded metal tarp roller positioned along the right-field line. The roller was obscured by an orange advertisement for Gorilla Glue, a detail now etched into the legal record.

Incidentally, 2023 was the last year of Ruf in the arena before he retired. While we were not aware of the reason for his retirement, it now looks like Ruf is blaming the Reds for his untimely retirement.

From the Reds’ POV, it cannot get worse than this. While they are surviving in fourth place in the NL Central with a 25-26 record, this lawsuit just added to their wound.

The Reds’ on-field woes continue

Well, the Reds have had a turbulent 2025 season, marked by inconsistency and a series of injuries that have hampered their performance. With a current record of 25–26, the team has shown flashes of potential. You might remember their five-game winning streak that included a sweep of the Guardians and a strong win over the Pirates.

However, back-to-back losses to the Pirates, where they managed just one run in each game, underscored ongoing struggles with offensive consistency. Key injuries to players like Hunter Greene, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and top prospect Rhett Lowder have disrupted the roster further.

A ray of hope is that Greene is expected to return soon.

However, you are wrong if you think no hopes are left for the Red. Despite these challenges, there are bright spots. Will Benson’s hot streak at the plate, Andrew Abbott’s reliable starts, and a strong outing from Nick Lodolo offer hope. Hence, if the Reds can stay healthy and build on these individual performances, they could still turn their season around.

But hey, it’s more important to ensure the players’ safety on the field. While it is common to see tarp rollers lying alongside the fence, it could prove hazardous. Darin Ruf showed that. Hopefully, the lawsuit will make it mandatory for the franchises to ensure better playing conditions for the players.

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