During a tense moment at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge was struck in the face by a foul ball hit by Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. The incident occurred in the top of the seventh inning when Rutschman lined a pitch into the Tampa Bay dugout, hitting the 27-year-old right-hander, who is currently on the injured list. Emergency medical personnel quickly tended to Bigge, who remained conscious and responsive, even giving a thumbs up before being placed on a backboard and carted off the field.
Manager Kevin Cash confirmed that Bigge was taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. The ball had been clocked at an alarming 105 mph on Statcast, and following the incident, the game was paused for about eight minutes as concerned Rays players gathered on the field. The crowd of 6,500 gave Bigge a standing ovation as he was taken away, demonstrating their support.
Despite the scare, play resumed, and the Orioles went on to secure a 4-1 victory. Bigge, drafted in the 12th round by the Chicago Cubs in 2019 from Harvard, debuted in MLB in July 2022. After six appearances with the Cubs, he was traded to Tampa Bay for All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes. So far in his career, he has recorded a 2.51 ERA in 32 appearances, with a solid 2.40 ERA this season across 15 innings pitched. The incident has raised concerns about player safety in dugouts, given the speed at which the foul ball traveled.
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