It was an intense game between the Orioles and Rays on Thursday. While the game ultimately went in favor of the Orioles by 4-1, it took a harrowing turn in the seventh inning. The moment that silenced the entire stadium. What happened?

Well, a blistering line drive off an Orioles bat struck Rays reliever Hunter Bigge, bringing the game to a stunned halt. Players stood frozen, fans held their breath, and medical staff rushed in. And while the immediate scene was undeniably tense, a few encouraging updates emerged on Bigge’s condition after a while. They were just about enough to ease concerns, but nothing more.

The incident took place at the top of the seventh inning when Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman ripped a line drive that shot straight into the Rays’ dugout and hit Hunter Bigge directly. According to the Rays manager, Kevin Cash, assistant strength coach Steve Chase managed to catch Bigge before his head could hit the ground. Orioles’ broadcaster Kevin Brown sounded tense during the event as he uttered the report: “Adley struck it very hard. Anything that gets 95mph, a major league baseball considers it a hard-hit ball; this was 105!”

The viral photos and videos showed Bigge was put on a backboard and taken off the field on a cart, wearing a neck brace. However, despite the scary moment, Bigge managed to give a thumbs-up to the crowd. Ahh, the scene was a relief, and the entire stadium gave a standing ovation to the spirit of the man.

Afterwards, Cash confirmed that Bigge never lost consciousness and said the ball hit him on the side of his face. Now as per the latest report, Bigge is in stable condition and currently undergoing a few tests: “He’s coherent. He’s talking to the physician and is going to have a lot of tests right now. I think he’s getting some tests done, and probably throughout the night.” While it was initially believed neck or eye injury had been sustained, nothing as such happened.

Bigge was going good this season with a 2.40 ERA from 13 games, and at the time of the incident, was sidelined with a lat strain. But now, it is expected that his return might take some more time. The situation couldn’t be any worse for the Rays, who are in an intense battle with the Red Sox and Blue Jays, just below the Yankees.

Rays’ pitching brilliance is keeping a postseason hope alive

The Rays, long viewed as underdogs in a league dominated by big-spending franchises, continue to defy expectations. This year, they have shown an uncanny ability to stay competitive by developing talent internally. Check Junior Caminero, the 21-year-old slugger from the Rays, is competing with the heavyweights with 17 HRs so far. He came as an unpolished talent from the Guardians (then Indians), and now he is firing all around the park. However, what really caught insiders with surprise this year was the Rays’ pitching brilliance!

The Rays’ pitching staff in 2025 has shown lots of promise. With a team ERA hovering around 3.49 and ranked 7th, they find themselves in the top tier of the AL pitching. On top of this, their bullpen is coming in handy as well.

Players like Pete Fairbanks remain a top-tier closer, with a 2.15 ERA and 13 saves already in the bank. Eric Orze has quietly impressed with a 1.24 ERA in 23 innings, while Edwin Uceta has handled middle relief duties effectively with a 4.45 ERA. Hence, it’s an all-around performance from the Rays. And the result? Ranked #2 in the AL East with a 41-34 record.

Now that Bigge is set to stay sidelined for a longer time, the Rays’ bullpen will surely take a hit. The upcoming weeks will be crucial as they attempt to rebuild and push off on a strong foot.