Former MLB Prospect Garrison Lassiter Sues Yankees & Reds For Age Discrimination

A former MLB prospect is suing the Cincinnati Reds, saying they won’t try him out because of his age. Garrison Lassiter, 30, and his lawsuit claim that according to the Reds’ tryout schedule, potential players are required to be between the ages of 16 to 22, something the lawsuit claims is “clearly age preferential.”

This lawsuit comes after a first one where Lassiter sought damages against the New York Yankees claiming they derailed his career in favor of superstar Derek Jeter. Lassiter claims the team conspired against him to “protect the career of Derek Jeter” and called it “obvious” that Jeter had control over the “entire organization.”

He requested $34 million from the Yankees “for the interference and lost years” of his professional career.

The requested amount was not random. In a wild claim, Lassiter compared himself to a mix of Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Cory Seager and former NFL quarterback and Yankees pitching prospect Brandon Weeden. The request for the $34 million came as a “guesstimate” of the salaries earned by Seager and Weeden, as well as another $5.6 million for a basketball career he never had.

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The lawsuit was dismissed in May 2019 by Chief District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder who said, “lacking any federal questions raised in the complaint and having already determined that diversity jurisdiction does not exist, the court is unable to further adjudicate Lassiter’s claims.”

Lassiter, who attended law school after falling out of baseball, wrote, “Many nights I’ve slept in my Car and I’m put in a situation that I do not like. Without a Home and no Money to pay my bills, up to this point I have Educated myself by attended Law School, Earning a Masters Degree and an undergraduate specialization in Sports Administration.”

The Yankees and the Reds declined to comment on their respective suits.