Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Hunter Bigge was carted off after taking a line drive to the head during Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The incident occurred during the top of the seventh inning, when Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman drilled a line drive into the Rays dugout, striking Bigge flush. The pitcher was apparently caught by assistant strength coach Steve Chase before his head hit the ground, manager Kevin Cash told reporters after the game. Cash said Bigge received immediate medical attention from assistant athletic trainer Aaron Scott.
Concern was obvious from everyone on the field. The Orioles’ broadcast said the ball left Rutschman’s bat at 105 mph.
Bigge was placed onto a backboard and taken from the field on a cart. He was wearing a neck brace and appeared to be bleeding significantly, per photos from the scene.
He did give a thumbs-up to the crowd and Cash told reporters that Bigge never lost consciousness. Cash said that Bigge was struck on the side of his face.
Bigge was taken to a local hospital.
‘He’s coherent. He’s talking to the physician. He’s going to have a lot of tests over right now. I think he’s getting some tests done, and probably throughout the night,’ Cash said after the game, via Rays TV reporter Ryan Bass.
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This story has been updated with new information.