Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge was stretchered away after being hit in the side of the face by a foul ball as he sat in the dugout on Thursday.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said postgame to the team’s TV reporter, “He’s coherent. He’s talking to the physician. He’s going to have a lot of tests right now … and probably throughout the night.”
In the game at Tampa, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman fouled off a 3-2 pitch from Rays reliever Connor Seabold. The ball was traveling 105 mph, per the Orioles’ broadcast crew, when it entered the first base dugout and struck Bigge.
The players on the field immediately reacted with dismay when they saw Bigge was hurt. Bigge eventually was put on a backboard and had his neck stabilized as medical personnel tended to him.
According to Cash, the 27-year-old reliever remained conscious the entire time. Bigge gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was loaded on the medical cart.
Bigge has been on the injured list since May 2 due to a right lat strain, and more recently he was slowed by a sore hamstring. He has no decisions and a 2.40 ERA in 13 relief outings for the Rays this year.
After starting his major league career with the Chicago Cubs last season, Bigge was traded to the Rays in July. In 32 total big-league games (including one start), Bigge is 0-0 with a 2.51 ERA and one save.
The Orioles won the game 4-1 on Thursday.
–Field Level Media
