Darin Ruf Sues Reds Over Career-Ending Injury

Former MLB player Darin Ruf is suing the Cincinnati Reds for negligence after suffering a career-ending knee injury in June 2023, when he collided with an unpadded metal tarp roller while playing first base for the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park. The lawsuit claims the Reds failed to maintain safe field conditions, specifically noting the absence of protective cushioning on the tarp roller and describing the grounds crew's actions as 'reckless.' Ruf's injury resulted in permanent and substantial deformities to his knee, forcing him onto the 60-day injured list and ending his MLB career. Ruf and his attorney argue the hazard was obvious and avoidable, seeking both punitive and compensatory damages. The Reds have not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit. The incident has raised wider concerns about player safety standards in Major League Baseball.