TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge was carted off the field Thursday night after he was struck in the face by a 105 mph foul ball off the bat of Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman.

Bigge instantly fell to the ground from the railing on the top step of the first base dugout and was immediately tended to by Rays athletic trainers. Head athletic trainer Joe Benge called for a medical cart, and local EMT staff helped put Bigge in a neck brace before placing him on a stretcher.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters after the game that Bigge (pronounced biggy) was struck on the side of the face but never lost consciousness and can see out of both eyes. The pitcher will continue to be evaluated at a local hospital.

“He’s coherent. He’s talking to the physician,” Cash said after the Orioles’ 4-1 victory. “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.”

Players and staff members on both teams looked distraught as the game was halted in the top of the seventh inning following a 3-2 pitch from reliever Connor Seabold that the left-handed-hitting Rutschman pulled sharply toward the first base side.

After a roughly 10-minute delay, Bigge was carted off the field with blood on his face, as shown on the Orioles’ Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.

Bigge gave a thumbs up, and the sold-out crowd of 10,046 at the Yankees’ spring training home of George M. Steinbrenner Field responded with a standing ovation. When play resumed, Rutschman drew a walk and Gunnar Henderson flied out to end the inning.

Bigge, a 27-year-old right-hander, has been on the injured list since May with a right lat strain. The former Chicago Cubs reliever posted a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings before his injury.

Rutschman said after the game that the situation was “really, really scary.”

“Praying for him and for his recovery and hope he’s doing OK,” Rutschman said. “I haven’t really been a part of something really like that. You never want to see that. I think everyone wishes for the best health for everyone in this game, and you hate to see that.”

Colton Cowser, whose three-run homer in the sixth was the difference in the win, said some players in the Orioles’ dugout were saying prayers for Bigge.

“It’s one of those things that happens and you snap into reality real quick,” Cowser said.

“It’s something that you don’t want to see happen to anyone. Prayers to Hunter, and hopefully he’s all right.”

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said that it sometimes feels as if players and coaches in the dugout are “sitting duck(s)” with how close they are to home plate. There was almost no time for Bigge to react to Rutschman’s scorching foul line drive.

“It’s just terrifying. Wish the best for (Bigge),” Mansolino said. “It’s just really scary for us all.”

It’s difficult for players on both teams to continue playing after a situation like that, Mansolino said.“I hope he recovers,” Morton said. “I know tonight’s probably going to be really rough, probably for a couple days it will be really, really rough. I just hope he’s all right and gets through the next few days OK.”

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