Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge experienced a startling incident on Thursday night in Tampa. During a game at the Tampa Bay facility, a foul ball struck him in the side of his face while he was in the dugout. The pitch, delivered by Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, traveled at 105 mph according to tracking technology. Bigge, a 27-year-old right-hander recovering on a 15-day injured list with a lat strain, was drawn into action by the hit.
Medical staff swiftly attended to Bigge following the incident. He was placed on a board and signaled he was alright with a thumbs-up despite the obvious discomfort. He remained alert and spoke with first responders, as noted by Rays manager Kevin Cash. Soon after, Bigge was loaded onto a stretcher and transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for further evaluation, while the crowd at Steinbrenner Field offered supportive cheers.
The impact occurred in the top of the seventh inning when Rutschman hit the ball toward the Tampa Bay dugout on the side near first base. The sudden event caused an eight-minute pause in the game, with concerned teammates and others on the field watching in silence. Once play resumed, Baltimore secured a 4-1 win in a hard-fought contest.
Bigge began his professional career after being selected in the 12th round of the 2019 amateur draft by the Chicago Cubs from Harvard. He made his major league debut on July 9 for Chicago. Soon after his debut, he was traded to Tampa Bay with Christopher Morel and Ty Johnson for a notable third baseman. In 32 career appearances, including one start, he holds a 2.51 ERA with one save. This season, he posted a 2.40 ERA in 13 relief outings over 15 innings.
The incident reminds all to be careful.
