Rockies Fan Sues Team, Blames Poor Play and Stadium Design for Foul Ball Injuries

The Colorado Rockies are striking out in more ways than one. On Sunday, they fell to the New York Yankees in the final game of a three-game series at Coors Field, sinking deeper into their historically dismal 2025 season with a 9-44 record—the worst 50-game start in modern MLB history. But the team’s woes extend beyond the diamond, as one frustrated fan has taken the Rockies to court, claiming their lackluster play contributed to his injuries.

Timothy Roeckel, a Rockies supporter, filed a lawsuit alleging he suffered 'catastrophic and permanent injuries' to his face and eye after being struck by a foul ball while seated in a Coors Field luxury box in July 2023. The lawsuit points to design flaws at the stadium, including an overhang that allegedly obscures the view of incoming balls and insufficient protective netting. But here’s the curveball: Roeckel also blames the Rockies’ 'longstanding poor performance' for creating a game-day atmosphere so dull that fans in luxury suites are too disengaged to dodge flying objects.

The Rockies haven’t seen a winning season since 2018, and with eight losses in their last 10 games, they’re on pace to challenge the Chicago White Sox’s 2024 record of 121 losses. While the team struggles to find its footing, Roeckel’s lawsuit suggests the Rockies’ failures are not just a blow to fan morale but a literal hazard.