Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge was reportedly injured when Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman lined a foul ball into the Rays’ dugout Thursday.
Bigge appeared to be standing on the dugout rail when he took a direct hit in his upper body, not far from the left-handed batter’s box where Rutschman was stationed.
Hunter Bigge was the player injured on this foul ball. Scary situation from Steinbrenner. pic.twitter.com/E6JXjQVOej
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) June 20, 2025
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported that Bigge was loaded onto a stretcher and taken off the field on a cart, giving a thumbs up to the crowd along the way.
Injured #Rays person loaded onto stretcher and taken off field on cart, gave a thumbs up to crowd several times
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) June 20, 2025
The scary incident took place during the bottom of the sixth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.
Rutschman himself looked “distraught” after hitting the line drive, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun on Twitter/X.
Scary scene here. Somebody in the Rays dugout was struck by an Adley Rutschman foul line drive. The cart is being brought out, and the stadium is silent. Rays players in the dugout and on the field look distraught. So did Rutschman.
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) June 20, 2025
“You could tell by reaction of hitter, pitcher and others it was a serious issue,” Topkin wrote on Twitter/X. “Athletic trainer Joe Benge signaled for paramedics cart and stretcher is being taken into dugout.”
Foul ball someone in #Rays dugout and you could tell by reaction of hitter, pitcher and others it was a serious issue. Athletic trainer Joe Benge signaled for paramedics cart and stretcher is being taken into dugout
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) June 20, 2025
Bigge, a 27-year-old right-hander, has a 2.40 ERA in 13 appearances out of the Rays’ bullpen this season. The Harvard graduate is currently on the injured list with a right lat strain.
Connor Seabold ended up walking Rutschman, before Gunnar Henderson flied out to end the inning with the Orioles holding a 4-1 lead.
More news: Phillies’ All-Star Benched for Making ‘Inappropriate Comment’
The scary moment interrupted an important American League East rivalry game, as the Orioles are looking to make up ground from their disastrous start to the season.
Baltimore, widely expected to contend for a playoff berth in 2025, began the day with a 31-42 record — fifth place in the five-team AL East.
More news: Two-Time World Series Champion, Beloved Member of 1969 Mets, Passes Away
Tampa Bay, at 41-33, has taken advantage of a recent hot stretch to pull within two games of the division-leading New York Yankees.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
The post MLB News: Pitcher Injured By Foul Ball, Leaves Game on Stretcher appeared first on Newsweek.
