{"id":136201,"date":"2025-06-28T02:30:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T02:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/136201\/"},"modified":"2025-06-28T02:30:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T02:30:11","slug":"rays-say-facial-injuries-wont-keep-hunter-bigge-from-2025-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/136201\/","title":{"rendered":"Rays say facial injuries won\u2019t keep Hunter Bigge from 2025 return"},"content":{"rendered":"

BALTIMORE \u2014 Reliever Hunter Bigge\u2019s recovery from multiple facial fractures<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery much so,\u201d manager Kevin Cash said. \u201cAll\u2019s good. He\u2019s in a great spot. If (he doesn\u2019t return this season), it won\u2019t be because of the accident. It will be because of his arm.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Adley Rutschman.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

When cleared, Bigge will start playing catch and then the Rays will build up his workload to see how his shoulder responds.<\/p>\n

Kim getting close to return\"ManagerManager Kevin Cash said the Rays are \u201cvery encouraged” with infielder Ha-Seong Kim’s status and and want to see continued progress as he plays rehab games with Triple-A Durham. [\u00a0JEFFEREE WOO | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Cash said the Rays are \u201cvery encouraged with his status\u201d and want to see continued progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve gone back and forth and had a lot of good conversations with him,\u201d Cash said. \u201cHa-Seong is not a young player. He\u2019s an established major-league player and a really good one, so we\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rays baseball operations president Erik Neander said in his weekly segment on WDAE radio that Kim has shown well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll get through these next three days and then just get an idea of where he\u2019s at,\u201d Neander said. \u201cIf he needs a little more time, we\u2019ll be there to provide it. If he feels like he\u2019s close and ready, then we\u2019ll keep an open mind. We\u2019re hopefully closing in on an activation but still kind of day-to-day to see how he responds to the added workload.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Explore all your options<\/a>Misner hurt at Triple A<\/p>\n

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. \u201cHe\u2019s going to miss some time,\u201d Cash said. \u201cI don\u2019t know how much.\u201d<\/p>\n

McClanahan set for Tuesday test<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

Miscellany<\/p>\n

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 \u201cmake some adjustment and make it pretty challenging for us\u201d on Saturday, his second start against them in 13 days.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n

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