Athletics' Zack Gelof suing Tigers after July knee injury at Comerica Park

Athletics utility player Zack Gelof has filed a 16-page lawsuit against the Detroit Tigers, Ilitch Holdings and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority following an injury he suffered while playing at Comerica Park.

During the Athletics' 4-1 loss to the Tigers on July 9, Gelof left the game in the bottom of the third inning after making a sliding catch in left field foul territory. According to WDIV , the lawsuit alleges that the 26-year-old suffered a serious knee injury after he collided with exposed metal fencing along the side wall.

Gelof claims that he suffered a deep laceration below his right kneecap that was close to his patellar tendon. He left the game shortly after the catch and did not return to action until Aug. 10.

The lawsuit argues that the metal fencing was sharp and not protected enough and that the defendants should have understood the area could be a part of play.

Gelof's attorneys allege that weeks after his injury protective padding was added to the area in question.

"It doesn't take a stadium design expert to realize that sharp metal fencing in an area where players are required to slide and play around is a recipe for disaster like the one that occurred here," said attorney Jon Marko in a statement. "All they had to do was put cheap padding up like they did after Zack was injured, and this entire incident could have been avoided."

Comments made by Tigers outfielder Riley Greene are cited in the lawsuit, reflecting that players are aware of that area of the field.

"That portion of the fence where he hit is metal," Greene said after the July 9 game . "He kind of slid into it, and it's definitely going to hurt if you slide into it."

The complaint seeks to recover damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, as well as attorney fees and costs.