Hunter Bigge Struck by Foul Ball, Sparks MLB Safety Debate

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Hunter Bigge was struck in the face by a 105 mph foul ball while sitting in the dugout during the seventh inning of Thursday's game against the Baltimore Orioles at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The ball, hit by Adley Rutschman, halted play and led to an immediate medical response, with Bigge's neck stabilized before he was carted off the field; he gave a reassuring thumbs-up to the crowd. Bigge, already on the injured list with a lat strain, has not had his condition publicly updated as of Thursday night. The incident has sparked renewed discussion about the need for improved dugout safety measures in MLB, as current protections for players remain limited. The Rays are playing at Steinbrenner Field due to hurricane damage at their usual home stadium. The Orioles won the game 4-1.