Thursday’s game between the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays at Steinbrenner Field included a scary moment during the seventh inning that saw a player put on a stretcher and taken from the field on a cart.
Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman hit a foul ball off Tampa Bay pitcher Connor Seabold that rocketed into the Rays’ dugout and hit relief pitcher Hunter Bigge. Based on the reaction of players, it was immediately apparent that a serious injury had occurred, according to Tampa Bay Times reporter Marc Topkin. Rays trainer Joe Benge called for paramedics, and a cart and stretcher were brought to the dugout.
The injured player was later identified by the Rays TV broadcast as Bigge. He was in the dugout because he’s currently on the injured list due to a right lat strain. As Bigge was taken from the field, he gave several thumbs-up gestures to the crowd.
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Judging from video taken of the foul ball, Bigge was not only hit by the foul ball with no time to react but also fell from the bench near the dugout rail where he was sitting. The ball came off Rutschman’s bat at 105 mph, according to the Orioles’ MASN broadcast.
After Bigge was taken from the field, the game resumed with two outs in the seventh and Baltimore holding a 4-1 lead over Tampa Bay. The Orioles went on to win by that final score.
“It’s really, really scary. Praying for him & for his recovery, hope he’s doing OK,” Rutschman told the Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer. “You never want to see that. Everyone wishes for the best health for everyone in this game, and you hate to see that. I hope he’s doing OK.”
Following the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that Bigge was coherent and undergoing tests at a local hospital. Bigge was hit on the side of the face, not the eye, and did not lose consciousness during the incident, according to Cash.
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