TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge experienced a scary incident when he was struck in the face by a foul ball, resulting in his being taken to a hospital after being carted off the field Thursday night.
Bigge was secured on a backboard and signaled a thumbs up before being transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. Despite the incident, he remained conscious and was able to communicate with the first responders, Rays manager Kevin Cash reported.
During the seventh inning’s top play, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman hit a sharp foul ball into the Tampa Bay dugout on the first base side, which struck Bigge—a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher who is currently on the injured list.
Emergency medical personnel quickly arrived to attend to Bigge. After several quiet minutes, as visibly concerned Rays players knelt in the field, Bigge was loaded onto a stretcher and carted off.
After the game, Cash said Bigge was struck in the face. The ball left Rutschman’s bat at 105 mph, according to Statcast.
Bigge, on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain, received a standing ovation from the Steinbrenner Field crowd as he was loaded onto a cart. The game resumed after an eight-minute delay, and Baltimore held on for a 4-1 victory.
Bigge was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 12th round of the 2019 amateur draft from Harvard and made his major league debut for them on July 9 last year. He was traded 19 days later to Tampa Bay along with Christopher Morel and minor leaguer Ty Johnson for All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes.
In 32 career appearances, including one start, Bigge has a 2.51 ERA and one save. This season, he has a 2.40 ERA in 13 relief outings covering 15 innings.
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