BALTIMORE — Reliever Hunter Bigge’s recovery from multiple facial fractures has gone well enough the Rays say he should be able to return to the mound this season as long as his previous shoulder issue heals.

“Very much so,” manager Kevin Cash said. “All’s good. He’s in a great spot. If (he doesn’t return this season), it won’t be because of the accident. It will be because of his arm.”

Bigge, who has been on the injured list since early May due to a right lat strain, was watching the June 19 game from the dugout when he was hit on the side of his face by a 105 mph foul ball off the bat of Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman.

In a scary moment for all at Steinbrenner Field, he was taken from the dugout on a stretcher with his face bloodied and transported to an area hospital, where he had surgery the next day.

Bigge had a good checkup with the surgeon on Thursday and an ophthalmologist Friday but has not been cleared for any physical activity for risk of stressing the repaired areas. He is still on a soft food diet.

When cleared, Bigge will start playing catch and then the Rays will build up his workload to see how his shoulder responds.

Kim getting close to returnManager Kevin Cash said the Rays are “very encouraged" with infielder Ha-Seong Kim's status and and want to see continued progress as he plays rehab games with Triple-A Durham.Manager Kevin Cash said the Rays are “very encouraged” with infielder Ha-Seong Kim’s status and and want to see continued progress as he plays rehab games with Triple-A Durham. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]

Infielder Ha-Seong Kim will be evaluated for a potential return to the majors after playing rehab games with Triple-A Durham through Sunday.

Kim, who played four seasons with the Padres before signing with the Rays in February, has been recovering from October right shoulder surgery. Friday was his 18th rehab game with the Bulls, his sixth since returning from an eight-day break to address hamstring tightness. He went into play hitting .211.

Cash said he got good reviews Friday from Durham manager Morgan Ensberg on the way Kim was moving at shortstop, how his shoulder and arm were doing and his timing at the plate.

Cash said the Rays are “very encouraged with his status” and want to see continued progress.

“We’ve gone back and forth and had a lot of good conversations with him,” Cash said. “Ha-Seong is not a young player. He’s an established major-league player and a really good one, so we’re going to trust his opinion of himself. He knows when he gets back here he wants to be able to contribute and help us every way possible.”

Rays baseball operations president Erik Neander said in his weekly segment on WDAE radio that Kim has shown well.

“We’ll get through these next three days and then just get an idea of where he’s at,” Neander said. “If he needs a little more time, we’ll be there to provide it. If he feels like he’s close and ready, then we’ll keep an open mind. We’re hopefully closing in on an activation but still kind of day-to-day to see how he responds to the added workload.”

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Explore all your optionsMisner hurt at Triple A

The Rays lost some outfield depth, at least temporarily, as Kameron Misner, who was sent back to Triple A Monday, cut his left hand sliding into third base Thursday and needed stitches. He also may have injured his thumb. “He’s going to miss some time,” Cash said. “I don’t know how much.”

McClanahan set for Tuesday test

Neander said two-time All-Star Shane McClanahan continues to feel good in his restarted return from a spring triceps nerve issue and is on track for what will be a big step Tuesday — throwing a full-distance bullpen session. After not feeling 100% in throwing one on June 7, McClanahan paused his throwing program to see a nerve specialist. He has been throwing off the mound at a shorter distance since.

Miscellany

Brandon Lowe on Friday extended his hitting streak to 14 games, Jonathan Aranda his to 12. Yandy Diaz ran his on-base streak to 21. … Cash said he expects ex-Ray Zach Eflin to “make some adjustment and make it pretty challenging for us” on Saturday, his second start against them in 13 days.

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