Hunter Bigge Bio
Hunter Bradford Bigge is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs after being selected by the club in the 2019 MLB Draft. Bigge made his MLB debut in 2024 and has built a reputation as a hard-throwing reliever capable of high strikeout totals. His career has moved quickly from a 12th-round draft pick to a late-innings option in the major leagues.
Early Life and Background
Hunter Bradford Bigge was born on June 12, 1998, in Los Gatos, California. He grew up in the Bay Area community of Los Gatos, where he attended Los Gatos High School and developed into a college-level pitching prospect. Bigge later enrolled at Harvard University, balancing a demanding academic environment with the schedule of an Ivy League baseball player.
At Harvard, Bigge played college baseball for the Harvard Crimson and continued to refine his skills on the mound. He also spent a summer playing collegiate baseball with the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League, a well-known developmental circuit for college players. While with Duluth, his fastball was reported to reach 95 miles per hour, a velocity that helped put him on professional scouting radars.
Path to Baseball
Bigge entered professional baseball when the Chicago Cubs selected him in the 12th round, with the 372nd overall pick, of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed with the Cubs instead of beginning an internship with the financial firm BlackRock, choosing to pursue a full-time baseball career. The decision marked the start of a steady climb through the Cubs’ farm system.
His first professional season came in 2019 across the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs and the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, where he posted a 1.13 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 9 games. After the 2020 minor league season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bigge worked for a financial startup during the shutdown. He returned to competition in 2021 with the High-A South Bend Cubs, logging a 5.66 ERA over 17 appearances before missing time with a torn labrum, an injury that tested his development but did not derail his trajectory.
Hunter Bigge Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Bigge’s first full seasons in the Cubs organization were defined by growth and resilience. After his impressive 2019 debut, he spent time at South Bend in 2021, working his way back from a torn labrum that cut into his playing time. In 2022, he split the year between South Bend and the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, posting a 7-2 record with a 5.26 ERA, 70 strikeouts, and 10 saves across 41 games, showcasing the traits of a future late-innings reliever.
The 2022 season established Bigge as a reliable bullpen arm in the upper minors. His combination of swing-and-miss stuff and willingness to handle high-leverage work drew positive reviews from the Cubs’ player development staff. That performance set the stage for his first invitation to Triple-A the following year.
Chicago Cubs Era (2023–2024)
Bigge began his ascent to the majors in 2023, pitching for both Tennessee and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. He compiled a 4.50 ERA with 68 strikeouts across 42 relief appearances, demonstrating durability and consistent velocity. The strong showing at Triple-A positioned him as a candidate for a major league call-up the following summer.
Bigge opened the 2024 season at Triple-A Iowa before the Cubs selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues on July 7, 2024. He made his MLB debut on July 9, 2024, and went on to record a 2.70 ERA with 5 strikeouts in 4 games for Chicago. His brief but effective stint with the Cubs demonstrated that his power stuff translated to the highest level of the sport.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2024–Present)
On July 28, 2024, the Cubs traded Bigge, along with Christopher Morel and Ty Johnson, to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Isaac Paredes. The trade gave Bigge a fresh start in a bullpen known for developing relievers, and he responded with 15 appearances down the stretch, posting a 2.57 ERA with 19 strikeouts and one save across 14 innings pitched. His late-season work helped solidify his role in the Rays’ relief corps.
Bigge was initially optioned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls to begin the 2025 season. Following an injury to Shane McClanahan, the Rays added Bigge to their Opening Day roster. In 13 appearances, he recorded a 2.40 ERA with 12 strikeouts over 15 innings of work, reinforcing his value as a high-leverage arm. On June 19, 2025, Bigge was hit in the face by a 105-mile-per-hour line drive foul ball off the bat of Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. He did not lose consciousness but was carted off the field and underwent emergency surgery to repair multiple facial fractures. On November 3, 2025, the Rays activated Bigge, signaling his recovery and return to the active roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bigge is recognized for a power-pitching profile built around a fastball that has consistently reached the mid-90s, including 105-mile-per-hour velocity off the bat of opposing hitters facing his secondary offerings. He works primarily out of the bullpen, where his high strikeout rate and ability to miss bats fit modern late-innings usage. His composure on the mound has allowed him to handle high-pressure situations early in his MLB career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Bigge’s early MLB career are his debut with the Cubs on July 9, 2024, and his first trade to the Tampa Bay Rays later that month. The frightening foul-ball incident on June 19, 2025, and his subsequent emergency surgery marked one of the most dramatic off-the-field events in recent MLB memory, followed by his activation by the Rays on November 3, 2025.
Hunter Bigge Career Wins
Hunter Bigge’s professional record reflects steady progression rather than a long list of headline wins, as his value has come from relief appearances and strikeout totals. Across his MLB time with the Cubs and the Rays, he has established himself as a dependable arm rather than a primary decision-maker on the mound. His minor league résumé, which includes a 7-2 record in 2022, laid the foundation for his major league opportunities.
Chicago Cubs Highlights
Bigge’s Cubs tenure featured a 2.70 ERA across 4 MLB appearances in 2024, following a minor league path that included a 4.50 ERA with 68 strikeouts at the Triple-A level in 2023. His brief major league audition reflected the organization’s confidence in his arm, even as the club ultimately opted to include him in a trade package.
Tampa Bay Rays Highlights
Since joining the Rays, Bigge has produced a 2.57 ERA in 15 appearances during the 2024 season and a 2.40 ERA in 13 appearances to open 2025, both with strong strikeout rates. His ability to step into higher-leverage work after the McClanahan injury underscored the Rays’ trust in his development.
Hunter Bigge Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Hunter Bigge’s family background is limited. He grew up in Los Gatos, California, and his path through Los Gatos High School and Harvard University shaped his early years.
Personal Life
Details about Hunter Bigge’s personal life, including marital status and children, are not publicly confirmed in available sources. His primary residence is not publicly documented.
2025 Season Performance
Hunter Bigge’s 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Rays began at Triple-A Durham before a Shane McClanahan injury opened a spot on the Opening Day roster. In 13 appearances, he recorded a 2.40 ERA with 12 strikeouts over 15 innings, establishing himself as a trusted bullpen option. His performance suggested an upward trajectory before a frightening incident changed the arc of his year.
On June 19, 2025, Bigge was struck in the face by a 105-mile-per-hour foul ball off the bat of Adley Rutschman, requiring emergency surgery to repair multiple facial fractures. He missed the remainder of the season while recovering from the injury. On November 3, 2025, the Rays activated Bigge, signaling his return to health and his expected place in the bullpen for the following season.