It appears Darin Ruf has some bad blood with Cincinnati.
Ruf, 38, is suing the Reds over a career-ending injury he suffered while crashing into an uncovered tarp roller at Great American Ball Park in 2023.
The lawsuit accuses Cincinnati of failing to maintain safe field conditions and cites the tarp roller.
Ruf was playing first base for the Brewers when the June 2, 2023, incident occurred. He fractured his kneecap after colliding with the tarp roller while pursuing a foul ball during a game against the Reds.
“This didn’t need to happen,” Ruf expressed in a statement. “I wish it didn’t happen. Players shouldn’t have to worry about hidden hazards like that on a major league field.”
The complaint indicates that Ruf sustained “permanent and substantial deformities to his knee,” also alleging that the tarp roller lacked any protective cushioning and was made of sharp metal.
Following the injury, Ruf was placed on the 60-day injured list and never played again in the major leagues.
“This was an obvious and avoidable risk,” Tad Thomas, Ruf’s attorney, said in a release announcing the lawsuit. “There are basic safety protocols every MLB team should follow. Leaving an unpadded metal roller on the edge of the field is inexcusable.”
According to the complaint, Ruf is seeking punitive and compensatory damages, saying the Reds failed to take precautions while being liable for the careless acts of the grounds crew.
Ruf spent nine seasons in MLB, along with a three-year stint in the KBO from 2017-19.
The Giants traded Ruf to the Mets at the trade deadline during the 2022 season.
He was largely disappointing, batting just .152 with a .413 OPS through 28 games in New York.
Following his short-lived tenure with the Mets, Ruf opened up about the treatment from fans that he received.
“Anywhere you struggle, fans are going to be tough on you but in New York, it’s magnified,” Ruf told The Athletic in April 2023. “I think the media there really runs with what fans’ perceptions are. So you’re kind of getting crushed by two entities.
“Even if you’re not on social media a heck of a lot, you still have an idea and you see things.”
