{"id":4563,"date":"2025-06-22T06:38:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T06:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/4563\/"},"modified":"2025-06-22T06:38:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T06:38:09","slug":"al-east-notes-bigge-kim-scherzer-westburg-gil-williams-weaver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/4563\/","title":{"rendered":"AL East Notes: Bigge, Kim, Scherzer, Westburg, Gil, Williams, Weaver"},"content":{"rendered":"

In excellent news out of Tampa Bay, right-handed reliever Hunter Bigge<\/a><\/strong> is recovering well after undergoing surgery to repair multiple facial fractures (per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times<\/a>). Bigge was hit in the face by a 105-mph foul ball off the bat of Adley Rutschman<\/a><\/strong> while watching Thursday\u2019s game from the Rays<\/strong>\u2019 dugout. Manager Kevin Cash<\/a><\/strong> told reporters today (including Topkin<\/a>) that Bigge has been released from the hospital and returned home.\u00a0There is no doubt the incident was terrifying, not just for Bigge but for everyone in either dugout at Steinbrenner Field. While Cash acknowledged that raising the screens in front of the dugouts probably isn\u2019t an option, Topkin reports that the skipper will meet with his players to talk about potential adjustments. \u201cWe\u2019ll talk through it,\u201d said Cash. \u201cAnd see what we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bigge, 27, has not played since May 1 due to a right lat strain. Through his first 15 games in 2025, the hard-throwing righty pitched to a 2.40 ERA and a 3.99 SIERA. Indeed, he has been highly effective since he came to Tampa Bay as part of the trade return for Isaac Paredes<\/a><\/strong>. He has a 2.48 ERA and 3.22 SIERA in 28 appearances with the Rays. He does not yet have a timetable to get back to game action.<\/p>\n

In additional Rays news, Ha-Seong Kim<\/a><\/strong> appeared in a rehab game yesterday, going 1-for-4 with a walk, two stolen bases, and a run scored. It was his first game in over a week; as Topkin notes<\/a>, the Rays pulled him off his last rehab assignment on June 12 with right hamstring tightness. Kim\u2019s strong offensive showing last night was surely good news for Tampa Bay. However, he played DH, and as he works his way back from shoulder surgery, the team\u2019s biggest questions aren\u2019t about his hitting or his baserunning but his ability to play shortstop. The Rays have already made it clear<\/a> that they won\u2019t reinstate Kim until he is ready to provide his typical Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop on a daily basis. So, tonight\u2019s game, in which he\u2019s playing shortstop, will be a much better test of his readiness to return. If it goes well, it might not be long before he finally makes his Rays debut. Topkin suggests Kim is unlikely to require the maximum 20 days of rehab before he is back with the big league club.<\/p>\n

More from around the AL East\u2026<\/p>\n