Hunter Bigge

Hunter Bigge
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 43
Pitcher
Born: (1998-06-12) June 12, 1998 (age 26)
Los Gatos, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 9, 2024, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average2.60
Strikeouts24
Teams

Hunter Bradford Bigge (born June 12, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs. He made his MLB debut in 2024 with the Cubs.

Career

Chicago Cubs

Bigge attended Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos, California,[1] and Harvard University, where he played college baseball for the Harvard Crimson. Bigge played collegiate summer baseball in the Northwoods League, where his fastball reached 95 miles per hour (153 km/h).[2]

The Chicago Cubs selected Bigge in the 12th round, with the 372nd overall pick, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He signed with the Cubs rather than start an internship with BlackRock. In his first professional season, Bigge logged a 1.13 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 9 games for the rookie–level Arizona League Cubs and Low–A Eugene Emeralds. Bigge worked for a financial startup after the minor league season was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.[4]

In 2021, Bigge made 17 appearances for the High–A South Bend Cubs, logging a 5.66 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 20+2⁄3 innings pitched. He missed playing time during the season as the result of a torn labrum.[2][5] Bigge split the 2022 campaign between South Bend and the Double–A Tennessee Smokies, accumulating a 7–2 record and 5.26 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 10 saves in 41 games.[6] In 2023, he played for Tennessee and the Triple–A Iowa Cubs, compiling a 4.50 ERA with 68 strikeouts across 42 appearances out of the bullpen.[7]

Bigge began the 2024 campaign with Triple–A Iowa. On July 7, 2024, the Cubs selected Bigge to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[5] He made his MLB debut on July 9,[8] and recorded a 2.70 ERA with 5 strikeouts in 4 games.

Tampa Bay Rays

On July 28, 2024, the Cubs traded Bigge, Christopher Morel, and Ty Johnson to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Isaac Paredes.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Los Gatos Whiz Kid of the Week Hunter Bigge". Los Gatos, CA Patch. June 7, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Birch, Tommy. "How Harvard graduate Hunter Bigge used his mind to become a big leaguer". The Des Moines Register.
  3. ^ "McColl and Bigge Drafted in 2019 MLB Draft". Harvard University. June 5, 2019.
  4. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Andracki, Tony (July 7, 2024). "Intriguing flamethrower joins Cubs bullpen after emotional path to majors | Chicago Cubs News". Marquee Sports Network.
  6. ^ "Hunter Bigge Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "Hunter Bigge - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "From Harvard to the Chicago Cubs, rookie reliever Hunter Bigge embraces the 'weirdest, craziest' ride". Chicago Tribune. July 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "Cubs acquire All-Star Paredes from Rays for Morel, 2 prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved July 28, 2024.