A California man says he was permanently blinded in one eye after being hit in the face with a thrown baseball by former angels of los angeles outfielder Juan Lagares during a game last summer.
Now, he’s suing the team and ex player, according to a civil complaint filed Tuesday.
A general view of the Angels logo on a tape board during summer training in preparation for a shortened MLB season during the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, July 10, 2020, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
David Mermelstein, 55, alleged in a civil lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court that on June 22, 2022, Lagares «randomly threw the ball into the stands at high velocity» after catching the third out in the sixth entry, The Orange County Register reported, citing the complaint.
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The lawsuit says that Mermelstein, who attended the game in an attempt to lift his spirits after the recent passing of his father, and his own mastermind cancer Diagnosis, he was looking down at the time Lagares tossed the souvenir ball into the stands and looked up just in time to get hit in the face with it.
According to KTLA, the ball crushed Mermelstein’s left eyeball, causing the fluid inside his eye to explode. Despite undergoing surgery, he was left permanently blind in one eye.
General view of the exterior of Angel Stadium before the Round 2 Group 2 Game between Team Japan and Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic at Angel Stadium on March 15, 2006 in Anaheim, California. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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According to the complaint, Mermelstein now faces the possibility of total blindness, as he suffers from a degenerative vision disorder in his right eye.
The civil lawsuit argues that Lagares, who is currently a free agent, «had a duty to do so reasonably and safely» when he decided to throw the ball to the fans, but instead threw it in a manner that «went over the wall.» of the garden». , he went up ten rows and slammed into the eye socket of an unsuspecting fan,» according to The Orange County Register.
Los Angeles Angels number 10 Juan Lagares prepares to take the field during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, June 2, 2022, in New York. (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Fans attending MLB games are warned that ticket holders accept the risk of injury, but the complaint argues that Mermelstein’s injury occurred after play was stopped.
Los Angeles did not immediately respond to attempts for comment from Fox News Digitals.
Mermelstein is seeking unspecified damages.