Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Jonathan “Mac” Williamson is suing the owners of Oracle Park after suffering a concussion while tracking down a ball in foul territory in 2018. Williamson, 30, fell awkwardly over the bullpen mounds past the left field foul line and then crashed into the wall suffering the injury.
Williamson’s suit claims the mounds should never have been located there. The Giants moved the bullpens to behind the outfield wall before the 2020 season.
“My injuries could have been avoided but for the parks failure to relocate the bullpens to where they belonged in the first place,” Williamson said in a recorded statement. “Trying to fight through the concussion over the last 2.5 years has been difficult, both personally and professionally.”
Williamson says he experiences nausea, dizziness and has vision issues. He last played in a major league game in 2019.
“I’m left wondering if tomorrow will be better,” he said. “If tomorrow I’ll get my life back. Unfortunately, that day has yet to come and my life in baseball has effectively come to an end.”
Williamson is suing China Basin Ballpark Company LLC who owns and operates the ballpark.
“Since the collision, Williamson has fought through the everyday obstacles that accompany the long-term effects of concussions. He also championed the relocation of the bullpens to protect other players,” Randy Erlewine, Williamson’s lawyer, said in a statement. “His injury should never have happened, and we believe that CBBC’s decision to use on-field bullpens, and its failure later to move them, put his and other players’ careers in jeopardy.”
Williamson was drafted by the Giants in the third round in 2012, making his major league debut in 2015. He hit .235 in 28 at-bats in 2017 but just .187 for the rest of the 2018 season after suffering the concussion.
“Everyone’s career ends at some point but to have it taken from me because the bullpen mounds were unnecessarily placed on the field is very hard to cope with,” Williamson said.