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New York Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
One difference-making trade for each AL team in the wild-card race
The San Francisco Giants have already won the trade deadline, and they did it earlier this week when they acquired Rafael Devers from the Red Sox for two major-league pitchers and two prospects. What a way to truly kick off the trade season. With less than six weeks to go until the July 31 deadline, let's look at possible trades that could impact the wild-card races, which are again closely contested. Entering Friday, 10 American League teams are in a wild-card spot or within six games back of playoff position. In the National League, essentially eight teams can say the same. (The Mets and Phillies are tied atop the NL East and NL wild-card standings so count as one team in this tally.) Advertisement The only teams in the majors that are not really in the postseason race are the White Sox and Athletics in the AL and the Nationals, Marlins, Pirates and Rockies in the NL. Therefore, with not a lot of sellers, at least at this stage, we could see several trades made between contenders, along with the usual seller-to-buyer type deals. Here is one difference-making trade proposal for each of the 10 AL teams contending for a wild-card spot. Check back next week for a similar article on the NL wild-card contenders. The Rays have been looking for a long-term solution at catcher and a trade for the Rockies' backstop would nicely fill that need. Goodman is having an All-Star caliber first half of the season, hitting .285 with 14 homers, 46 RBIs and a 126 OPS+. He's a bat-first catcher who ranks in the 91st percentile in hard-hit rate and the 88th percentile in average exit velocity, but defensively, he's in the bottom-third of the league among catchers with minus-5 Defensive Runs Saved. Goodman, 25, won't be arbitration-eligible until 2027. In return, the Rockies would get Bradley, who could go right into their starting rotation. He has posted a 4.95 ERA with 73 strikeouts over 80 innings this season. In addition, the Rockies would also pick up Gillen, a first-round pick last year, whom The Athletic's Keith Law ranked as Tampa Bay's fourth-best prospect before this season. Gillen is a future impact leadoff hitter with strong on-base skills (.457 OBP) and speed (23 steals in 24 attempts) this season in Low A. This is an overpay for the Rays but would solve their biggest organizational need. The Blue Jays are focused on acquiring a starting pitcher before the trade deadline and the veteran righty would be a good fit for them. Kelly, 36, is 6-3 with a 3.41 ERA over 15 starts and will be eligible for free agency at season's end. He went to high school and college in Arizona and would like to finish his career as a Diamondback. However, if the D-Backs fall out of the National League wild-card race, perhaps they'd trade him as a rental for two solid prospects and then look to re-sign him in the offseason. Advertisement In this deal, Arizona would acquire Rojas, an intriguing 22-year-old lefty from Cuba. He has a plus fastball and slider but also comes with an injury history that includes shoulder issues, but there's enough upside there to take a gamble on him. Shaw, 20, is a versatile player who can play second base, center field and left field. He has a .420 on-base percentage this season in Low A. The Red Sox have a hole at first base and Lowe would be a good fit. Last year he slashed .265/.361/.401 with 16 homers and 69 RBIs while playing plus defense at first base. This year with the Nationals, he's hitting just .227 but has 12 doubles, 10 home runs and 45 RBIs in 75 games. He'd be an upgrade for the Sox, who would control him through 2026. Lowe would be a solid place holder until prospect James Tibbs III, acquired in the Devers trade, is ready for the majors. A second-round pick in 2024, Tolle has an eye-popping 70 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings this season in High A. This is the type of deal the Nationals need to make at the trade deadline: adding more power arms to their stable. The Guardians have been searching for a veteran upgrade for their outfield and Robert would make a lot of sense for them. Robert, 27, is two years removed from a 38-homer season, and although he's having a down year (.190 average, six homers), he does have 22 steals in 27 attempts and has played above-average defense in center field. He badly needs a change of scenery, and it's expected he'll finally get dealt at this year's trade deadline. The Guardians would control Robert through 2027. He is making $15 million this season and his contract includes two team options, at $20 million per year. In return for Robert, the White Sox would get Chourio, a top outfield prospect who has a .383 on-base percentage this season across Rookie ball and High A. Chourio, 20, is the younger brother of the Brewers' Jackson Chourio. Cleveland would also get Velazquez, 20, a first round pick in 2023. He's batting .202/.279/.418 with nine homers this season in High A. Both players are considered top-10 prospects (in the Guardians' system), which is what the White Sox are hoping to get in a Robert trade. Advertisement The Mariners need to upgrade at first base and landing Naylor could be a game-changer for the middle of their lineup. Last year, he hit 31 home runs with 108 RBIs and helped lead the Guardians to the ALCS. This year, he has slashed .304/.359/.471 with nine homers and 49 RBIs. The Diamondbacks insist they'll be buying at the trade deadline, but that could change in the coming weeks. Closer to July 31, they could decide to trade their impending free agents, including Naylor, to acquire more talent for the future while still being able to re-sign those veteran players in free agency this winter. In return for Naylor, the Diamondbacks would get Legumina, who could immediately help them in the bullpen, and Sloan, who would add important starting pitching depth to their farm system. Legumina, 28, has a 4.05 ERA over 27 appearances this season with the Mariners. Sloan, 19, is a top-10 prospect in Seattle's strong farm system; a second-round pick last year, he has a 4.54 ERA this season in Low A. The Twins have made it clear to opposing general managers that they are looking for a left-handed-hitting outfielder. Sánchez is one of their trade targets. He has slashed .251/.324/.412 with seven doubles, seven homers and seven steals in 53 games. Last year he hit .252 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs. He ranks in the 92nd percentile in bat speed and the 76th percentile in average exit velocity. Sánchez, 27, is under team control through 2027. In return, the Marlins would get Hill, a 19-year-old righty whom the Twins selected in the second round of last year's draft. He's been dominant in the Low-A Florida State League this season, posting a 1.65 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings. This is the type of trade that Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix has prioritized. The Royals are looking for power and acquiring Stowers from the Marlins would make a lot of sense. Stowers, 27, is slashing .272/.340/.460 (120 OPS+) with 10 homers and 34 RBIs. He would become the Royals' everyday left fielder. He is under team control through the 2029 season. In return, Miami would get Shields, who was a second-round pick last year. The 18-year-old lefty's career is off to a promising start, posting a 3.26 ERA over eight outings in Rookie ball and Low A. The Marlins would also acquire Ramirez, who could become available because the Royals have two better catching prospects in Blake Mitchell and Carter Jensen. Ramirez, 20, has an .838 OPS with nine homers and 39 RBIs in 44 games this season in Low A. He's currently on the injured list and hasn't played this month. The Angels (36-38) hope to stay in the race and want to buy at the trade deadline, so making a push for Cabrera makes some sense for them. Cabrera, 27, will be arbitration-eligible next offseason, which likely means Miami will test his trade market. He has a 3.81 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over 12 starts this season with 63 strikeouts in 59 innings. He ranks in the 85th percentile in fastball velocity and the 81st percentile in breaking run value. Cabrera, who has dealt with a variety of injuries in the past, is under team control through 2028. Advertisement The Marlins would get right-handers Klassen and Cortez in return. Klassen, 23, has a 5.65 ERA over 11 starts this season with 52 strikeouts in 43 innings. He was acquired by the Angels at last year's trade deadline in the Carlos Estévez trade with the Phillies. Cortez, 22, was a second-round pick in 2024, and the Angels have transitioned the former college reliever to a minor-league starter. He has a 3.39 ERA this season over 13 starts with 59 strikeouts and 43 walks in 63 2/3 innings. If his command and control improve, he profiles as either a back-of-the-rotation starter or possibly a high-leverage reliever. The Rangers' offense has been inconsistent this season, and it looks like they need an impact middle-of-the order bat. Ozuna would be a potential solution if the Braves decide to sell at the trade deadline. (They are 5 1/2 games out of the final NL wild-card spot but are still five games below .500.). Ozuna, 34, is slashing .253/.381/.418 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs. He's ranked fourth in the majors in walks (52) and is on pace to set a career-high. Ozuana batted .302 with 39 homers and 104 RBIs last year and will be a free agent after this season. In return, the Braves would acquire Drake, an 11th-round pick in 2022, who has a 2.74 ERA over 11 starts with 68 strikeouts and 20 walks in 49 1/3 innings this season at Double A. Law ranked Drake, 24, 11th in the Rangers' farm system entering this season. The Orioles desperately need an ace and Alcantara, if he continues to pitch well, could be a great fit — plus he's under team control through 2027. Alcantara has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last three starts. There have also been positive signs with his stuff and command, despite his subpar overall numbers (6.88 ERA, 1.47 WHIP), as the former Cy Young Award winner gets more comfortable in his first season since undergoing Tommy John surgery. Obviously, the prospect price for Alcantara, if he's right, will be huge — which is reflected in this trade proposal. Basallo, 20, would be the headliner for the Marlins and would immediately become their top prospect, a player who should be able to hit in the middle of their lineup for years to come. He has a .974 OPS this season at Triple A. Povich, who is currently on the IL with left hip inflammation, would go into the Marlins' rotation when healthy. The 25-year-old lefty has a 5.15 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings this season. Kjerstad, 26, could take over a corner outfield position for Miami and finally get the runway as an everyday player to prove himself. He hit .192 before being optioned to Triple A earlier this month. (Top photo of Kyle Stowers: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Tampa Bay Rays under fire as Hunter Bigge suffers terrifying 105 mph head injury mid-game
Tampa Bay Rays under fire as Hunter Bigge suffers terrifying 105 mph head injury mid-game (Image via Getty) A terrifying moment shocked fans at a Tampa Bay Rays game when pitcher Hunter Bigge was hit in the head by a razor‑fast foul ball. The crowd went silent as emergency crews rushed in. What unfolded in those tense minutes, and how is Bigge doing now? Hunter Bigge injured during bullpen warm‑up at Rays‑Orioles game On June 19, 2025, at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, relief pitcher Hunter Bigge, 27, was in the dugout warming up during the seventh inning of the game against the Baltimore Orioles. Adley Rutschman, the Baltimore catcher, fouled a pitch into the Rays bullpen. The ball hit Bigge on the right side of the face at about 105 mph. Bigge, who was already on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain , didn't lose consciousness. He leaned against the railing and was struck without warning. His teammates knelt on the field while medical staff rushed in. Bigge was placed on a backboard and taken off on a stretcher. The crowd gave a standing ovation as he flashed a reassuring thumbs-up. Hunter Bigge stable after scare as Rays review dugout safety After the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that Hunter Bigge was awake and talking to doctors at the hospital. A neck brace was used before he was taken by ambulance for tests . Cash said Hunter Bigge never lost consciousness and had no eye injuries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 年最紓壓的農場遊戲！無需安裝 東加：島嶼農場 立即播放 Undo Also Read: Tampa Bay Rays Honor Evan Longoria With A Win That Rewrites MLB Record Books Players and fans showed deep concern. Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino called it 'terrifying' , while Rays catcher Danny Jansen said it was 'tough to see' but noted the team had to continue the game. According to the Associated Press, the pitch was pulled sharply off the bat, and instant silence fell over the stadium. MLB safety experts are now discussing whether to improve protective measures in dugouts. Hunter Bigge started his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs in July 2024 and was moved the same year to the Tampa Bay Rays. Before getting hurt, he showed potential with a 2. 51 ERA in 32 innings. As the Rays await full health reports, this incident has sparked an important conversation about how even routine plays pose hidden dangers in baseball. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
New York Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Sliders: For the surging Rays, solid starters grow on fruitful trade trees
Welcome to Sliders, a weekly in-season MLB column that focuses on both the timely and timeless elements of baseball. When a young pitcher joins the Tampa Bay Rays, he learns quickly that time is running out. If you think you're invincible, this is not the place for you. 'A lot of these guys don't realize that, in reality, they have about five years to be as good as they can be,' said Kyle Snyder, the Rays' longtime pitching coach. 'And it's something that I've shared with them, not to scare them, but it creates some sense of urgency. If you want to take advantage of your physical prime, it's right out in front of you.' Advertisement No team understands timing like the Rays, baseball's hottest team for the last month. Since May 20, Tampa Bay is 20-8 and stands just 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the American League East entering the weekend. There are several reasons for this: a stellar defense, MLB's best offense since mid-May, a home-heavy early schedule. But the most startling is that the team that pioneered the opener now leads the majors in starters' innings pitched. Brandon Lowe, the veteran second baseman, summed it up best last week. 'Our pitching staff is being very Rays pitching staff,' he said. 'They're fantastic for us.' Very Rays pitching staff, as an adjective, could mean almost anything, as long as it's successful. That's what's so fun about following the Rays, a team with a borrowed stadium, an ownership in transition and a relentless discipline to grab those precious few years of a pitcher's prime – and move on. 'They can see guys in other organizations that they think are undervalued, they make those trades to get them, and then from there, they help you develop into a better version of yourself,' said starter Drew Rasmussen, who leads the rotation with a 2.61 ERA. 'And then, I would say every guy in here knows at the back end, when your time is done here, they'll probably flip you and get another couple arms. And they'll be talented arms, they'll help develop their skills and it just kind of continues to snowball from there.' There isn't a snowball's chance in Pinellas County that the Rays will pay for a pitcher's decline phase. It just never happens. Consider how they obtained Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot, whose ERA is 3.11 after beating Baltimore with eight strong innings on Monday. Both pitchers can trace their acquisitions to No. 1 overall picks from the Devil Rays era. 'The trade trees here are wild,' Lowe said, and here's how two of them look, in shorthand: 2003: Delmon Young drafted first overall. Advertisement 2007: Young traded to Minnesota Twins for Matt Garza. 2011: Garza traded to Chicago Cubs for Chris Archer. 2018: Archer traded to Pittsburgh Pirates for Tyler Glasnow. 2023: Glasnow traded to Los Angeles Dodgers for Pepiot. 2007: David Price drafted first overall. 2015: Price traded to Detroit Tigers for Willy Adames. 2021: Adames traded to Milwaukee Brewers for Rasmussen. Several other useful players arrived in those deals, including starter Shane Baz, who was part of the Archer trade and is 6-3 with a 4.54 ERA for the Rays this season. But the Pepiot tree, in particular, is instructive for how durably fruitful it has been — especially the newest branch. While Glasnow was a Game 1 World Series starter for the Rays, in 2020, he was often hurt and never topped 120 innings for Tampa Bay. His elite stuff attracted the Dodgers, who were willing to pay lavishly for it, despite the health risk. Glasnow made the All-Star team last July, but was injured for the postseason and has been out since late April with shoulder trouble. Pepiot, meanwhile, made 26 starts last season (more than Glasnow ever has) and is now earning $774,600. Glasnow makes roughly 35 times more per season on his five-year, $136.5 million contract extension. The genius of the Rays, though, is the way they go beyond such cold calculations to earn players' trust. In Pepiot's case, the bonds go both ways. 'Immediately after the trade, I was talking to Snyder for a couple of hours, and when we talked, he was like, 'I don't want to talk baseball with you for at least a couple weeks; I just want to get to know you as a person,'' said Pepiot, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz. 'And then he's like, 'Hey, I'm flying out to Arizona, we're going to meet up.' And I was like, 'I'm coming to Florida; I want to get with the staff.' So I went to the Trop in the beginning of January and worked out there for a month and a half before spring training even started.' Advertisement That kind of commitment impressed Snyder, who has since helped Pepiot add a cutter and curveball to his fastball/slider/changeup mix. Now, Pepiot uses that assortment to induce early contact, a mantra for a rotation in which no starter averages a strikeout per inning. 'That's kind of been a product of knowing how good the defense is and letting them work behind us,' Pepiot said. 'We all sacrifice some strikeouts for a more efficient inning to be able to go longer and deeper in the ballgame. We all talk about the same thing. It's like, 'OK, we might punch out four or five, but it's fine because we went seven and we had efficient, 15-pitch-or-less innings.' Rays starters were averaging an MLB-low 15.3 pitches per inning through Wednesday. If they get ahead, 0-2 or 1-2, they'll try to induce the hitter to chase a third strike. Hitters, naturally, rarely let them get to that point. 'I think the opposition is recognizing that we're going to throw strikes,' manager Kevin Cash said, 'and more times than not, when you're throwing strikes with the type of stuff that our pitchers are featuring, you're going to get some outs.' The Rays' pitching staff had allowed a .262 batting average on balls in play through Wednesday, second best in the majors behind the Texas Rangers, at .259. Their starters — Pepiot, Rasmussen, Baz, Zack Littell and Taj Bradley — have good enough stuff, in Cash's view, to handle the first inning on their own. The team known for openers hasn't used one all season, but Cash has not sworn off the strategy. He's just playing to the strengths of his roster. 'I prefer whatever is going to give us the best chance to win games and do it consistently,' he said. This year, that means reliable efficiency from a bargain rotation in its prime. Here at Sliders, we're big fans of the high-quality start: at least seven innings with no more than two earned runs. It's the best single-game measure of durability and dominance, and it helps to be efficient. Advertisement High-strikeout pitchers, then, don't often reach seven innings. But sinkerballers do, and the newest wizard of the sinker is José Soriano of the Los Angeles Angels. After blanking the Yankees for seven innings on Monday, Soriano had five high-quality starts, more than nine teams — the A's, Blue Jays, Brewers, Dodgers, Marlins, Mets, Rays, Rockies and White Sox. Soriano throws his sinker more than any other qualified starter (51.1 percent of the time, according to Fangraphs), and throws it an average of 97 miles an hour, harder than every other starter except Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal. 'He's been working on it for a while now, and he's kind of getting the feel of it and mastering it,' Angels shortstop Zach Neto said. 'It's just the way he throws it, man. It's from a weird angle, and it's not only me seeing it from out there, it's guys we play against, whenever they get on base, they're just saying the same thing: 'He's got it really moving today.' It's just a matter of how he can control it. When he throws in the zone, it doesn't really get hit.' It doesn't get hit very far, anyway. Monday's start was Soriano's 10th in a row without allowing a home run, and opponents have gone deep just three times. 'I don't try to do much with the pitch and I think that's a big key for the success that I've been having with that pitch,' Soriano said through an interpreter. 'It's pretty much like with every other pitch — when you're trying to do too much, it's either a ball or not the spot that you want.' Soriano, 26, grew up in the Dominican Republic idolizing Pedro Martinez and, as a teenager, Luis Severino. Like Severino, who is now with the A's, Soriano had Tommy John surgery in 2020. Unlike Severino, he had it again 16 months later. 'I was very frustrated at that moment,' Soriano said. 'I thought the world was coming down around me.' Advertisement Soriano said his family helped him stay positive in his comeback, and one of his favorite pitchers helped, too. 'When I was injured, I got to talk to (Severino) and he helped me a lot,' Soriano said. 'He gave me a lot of good advice and that helped me to keep my head up.' Soriano's second operation came while he was pitching in the Pittsburgh Pirates' farm system in 2021, after the team had taken him from the Angels in the Rule 5 draft. Needing a roster spot that November, the Pirates returned the injured righty to the Angels. 'At the end of the season they told me, 'Hey, sorry, we're trying to keep you here, but we need space on the roster,'' Soriano said. 'And then that's what they told me and everyone knows the results now.' Soriano spent most of 2022 recovering and reached the majors as a reliever in 2023. He moved to the rotation last year and has a 3.44 ERA in 35 career starts. His breakthrough came in 2023 when, then-bullpen coach Matt Wise and another staffer, changed his sinker grip. Soriano, who had been throwing across the two seams at their narrowest point, now uses a 'one-seam' sinker that produces an extraordinary combination of velocity and depth. 'Things going this fast just shouldn't drop that much,' Rob Friedman, the Pitching Ninja, gushed in a recent post, also noting Soriano's slider and knuckle-curve. 'Absolutely unfair stuff.' With 86 1/3 innings, Soriano is poised to easily surpass his professional high of 113 from last season, when he was shut down in August with arm fatigue. The Angels will be careful as this summer goes on. 'We don't have to worry about it until we get past what he threw last year, and so far, he's breezing to that,' Angels manager Ron Washington said. 'So we might get 130, 140, 150 at the most out of him this year, and then next year we're going to want more. We ain't got to worry if he ever gets to 200 because they don't allow that. But he can get into the seventh inning almost every time out there. And if you take the ball 31 times into the seventh inning….' Advertisement That would be well more than 200 innings, unrealistic for a pitcher with two Tommy John surgeries. But as long as he's healthy, Soriano is commanding attention. 'Sometimes I have good moments, and other times I don't,' he said. 'I always try to stay humble and keep on working hard to get good results.' Last June in this space, we featured Allan Travers for a square that asked for a Tigers pitcher. Travers started one game for Detroit, in 1912, when the Tigers fielded a replacement team against the Philadelphia A's to protest a suspension of Ty Cobb. The 20-year-old Travers — a student at St. Joseph's University who became a priest — gave up 14 earned runs in eight innings for a 15.75 ERA. It turns out that there's another starter in Tigers history who appeared in exactly one game with a 15.75 ERA: Beiker Graterol, a Venezuela native who fit a recent square for a foreign-born Detroit player. Graterol drew a harrowing assignment for his only appearance. With other Tigers slowed by injuries, the team picked Graterol, 24, as a stopgap to face the defending champion New York Yankees in their 1999 home opener. 'We're definitely looking down the rifle barrel,' Tigers manager Larry Parrish told the Detroit Free Press, in a vividly candid assessment. 'We're asking a lot of the kid.' They asked for too much. On a day best remembered for Yogi Berra's return to Yankee Stadium after a 14-year absence, the home team celebrated by pummeling Graterol in a 12-3 blowout. Tino Martinez hit a solo homer, Scott Brosius a two-run shot and Chili Davis a grand slam. Berra predicted the slam in the broadcast booth, chuckling with delight as Davis rounded the bases: 'I'll do better next time,' the poor pitcher said later, but there was no next time. Graterol soon returned to the minors and is linked with a strikebreaking priest forever. If you're reading this on a weekend in the Northeast, it's probably raining. Last weekend was the 14th in a row with rain in Boston, and it hasn't been much clearer in New York or Philadelphia. Baseball players are experts at waiting out the rain, as the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs relievers demonstrated at Wrigley Field in 2018. The Diamondbacks won the talent show, if you can call it that — with bits that included Rubby De La Rosa rolling himself like a bowling ball, toppling Archie Bradley and Andrew Chafin in a 7-10 split. Advertisement The well-traveled Chafin, now with the Washington Nationals, gives a convincing effort as a wobbly bowling pin. But a different part of the act stands out to him now. 'I literally roped our bullpen catcher and flipped him, dropped him on his back and hog-tied him,' Chafin said. 'He hit the ground with a thud and I was like, 'Oh, sorry.' I got a little carried away, because anytime you're working with cows, you've got to be a little aggressive.' Was Chafin speaking from experience? Yep. Here's how our conversation went from there: Chafin: 'My buddy called us one day and his cows got out. Their gate wasn't quite right or their fencing needed adjusted and we ended up wrangling like 25 to 30 head in the back of my Ranger. And after we got them all back in, one tried to jump back out and it got out! It was running in circles, trying to kick. So I literally just jumped on its neck, grabbed its head, and just folded it backwards onto the ground.' Sliders: When was this? Chafin: 'Oh, this is like five years ago.' Sliders: 'Really? That's a valuable arm you've got there.' Chafin: 'Well, I grabbed it with my right arm, kept my left arm further away. But you ever had to chase cows that got out?' Sliders: 'No!' Chafin: 'You don't want to do it. And it was also like 15 degrees out, I think, so it's even worse. Chasing cows in the cold is miserable for everybody.' We'll take his word for it. Anyway, enjoy these bullpen frolics – and stay dry! (Top photo of Ryan Pepiot:)
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Frightening scenes: Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge carted off after being struck by foul ball
A terrifying scene in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, as Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge was in the dugout and hit by a line drive off the bat of a Baltimore Orioles player. The foul ball was registered at going 105 mph. The game was delayed for several minutes as medical personnel treated Bigge. He was placed on a stretcher with his head and neck immbolized. Bigge raised his thumb a couple of times to acknowledge the crowd's cheers. Bigge, a relief pitcher, was in the dugout because he is on the Injured List due to a lat strain. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball Hunter Bigge of the Tampa Bay Rays gives a thumbs up after getting hit by a foul ball off the bat of Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field on June 19, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball Junior Caminero #13 looks on as Hunter Bigge #43 of the Tampa Bay Rays is carted off after getting hit by a foul ball off the bat of Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles (not pictured) in the seventh inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball Hunter Bigge #43 of the Tampa Bay Rays gives a thumbs up after getting hit by a foul ball off the bat of Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field on June 19, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball Junior Caminero #13 looks on as Hunter Bigge #43 of the Tampa Bay Rays is carted off. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero reacts as pitcher Hunter Bigge (43) gets medical attention after getting hit in the face by a foul ball. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball A group of Tampa Bay Rays players look as pitcher Hunter Bigge (43) gets medical attention after getting hit in the face by a foul ball. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball Tampa Bay Rays catcher Danny Jansen (19) and relief pitcher Connor Seabold (41) look on as pitcher Hunter Bigge (43) gets medical attention after getting hit in the face by a foul ball. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge (43) gets medical attention after getting hit in the face by a foul ball. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball Tampa Bay Rays fans look on as pitcher Hunter Bigge (43) gets medical attention after getting hit in the face by a foul ball. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball Tampa Bay Rays fans look on as pitcher Hunter Bigge (43) gets medical attention after getting hit in the face by a foul ball in the seventh inning. Rays' Hunter Bigge struck by foul ball Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge (43) gets medical attention after getting hit in the face by a foul ball in the seventh inning. This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge struck in face by foul ball
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rays pitcher carted off field after foul ball strikes him in dugout
Hunter Bigge of the Tampa Bay Rays is carted off after getting hit by a foul ball off the bat of Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles. -Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge was carted off the field in a frightening scene Thursday night after he was struck by a foul ball in the dugout. In the top of the seventh inning, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman fouled a pitch into the Tampa Bay dugout and it hit Bigge, a 27-year-old right-hander currently on the injured list. Advertisement Emergency medical personnel quickly arrived to attend to Bigge. After several quiet minutes as Rays players knelt in the field, Bigge was placed on a backboard and carted off. Bigge, on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain, gave a thumbs-up gesture as the Steinbrenner Field crowd rose for a standing ovation. The game resumed after an eight-minute delay with Baltimore leading 4-1. 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. Advertisement The Rays told CNN in a statement: 'Hunter Bigge was struck in the cheek but is conscious and speaking with doctors. He will undergo further testing tonight and will continue to be monitored.' For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at
