1. Early Life and Education
Hunter Bigge's early life and educational background laid the foundation for his professional baseball career.
1.1. Birth and Early Life
Hunter Bradford Bigge was born on June 12, 1998, in Los Gatos, California, which is situated in Santa Clara County, California.
1.2. High School and College Baseball
Bigge attended Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos, California. He later pursued his higher education at Harvard University, where he was an integral part of the Harvard Crimson college baseball team. During his participation in collegiate summer baseball in the Northwoods League, Bigge's fastball velocity was notably recorded at 95 mph. Upon being drafted, he notably chose to sign with the Chicago Cubs, prioritizing his professional baseball career over an internship opportunity with BlackRock, a prominent asset management firm.
2. Professional Career
Hunter Bigge's professional journey began with his draft selection by the Chicago Cubs, progressing through their minor league system before reaching Major League Baseball and later being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays.
2.1. Draft and Minor League Years
The Chicago Cubs selected Bigge in the 12th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, as the 372nd overall pick. Following his signing, he made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs and also played for the Low-A Eugene Emeralds. In his inaugural professional season, he demonstrated strong performance, logging a 1.13 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 9 games, accumulating a record of 2 wins and 0 losses. The 2020 Minor League Baseball season was subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, during which period Bigge engaged in work for a financial startup.
In 2021, Bigge made 17 appearances for the High-A South Bend Cubs, where he finished with a record of 1 win and 2 losses, 1 save, a 3.09 ERA, and 29 strikeouts over 20⅔ innings pitched. His playing time that season was affected by a torn labrum. The 2022 campaign saw Bigge split his time between South Bend and the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. Across these two teams, he accumulated a record of 7 wins and 2 losses, 10 saves, a 5.26 ERA, and 70 strikeouts over 41 games. In 2023, he continued his progression, playing for both Tennessee and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. In 42 appearances, primarily out of the bullpen, he compiled a record of 3 wins and 1 loss, 2 saves, a 4.50 ERA, and 68 strikeouts.
2.2. Chicago Cubs (2019-2024)
Bigge commenced the 2024 season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. On July 7, 2024, the Chicago Cubs selected him to their 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time in his career. He subsequently made his MLB debut on July 9, 2024, in a game against the Baltimore Orioles. During his stint with the Cubs in 2024, Bigge recorded a 2.70 ERA with 5 strikeouts across 4 appearances.
2.3. Tampa Bay Rays (2024-present)
On July 28, 2024, the Chicago Cubs traded Bigge, along with Christopher Morel and Ty Johnson, to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Isaac Paredes. As of the conclusion of the 2024 season, combining his performances with both the Cubs and the Rays, Bigge appeared in a total of 19 games, including 1 start, recorded 1 save, achieved a 2.60 ERA, and accumulated 24 strikeouts.
3. Pitching Style
Hunter Bigge is a right-handed pitcher whose primary and most impactful pitch is his fastball, which consistently registers in the high 90 mph range. While his control has been noted as an area for ongoing development, he frequently incorporates his slider as his main breaking ball to complement his fastball.
4. Career Statistics and Uniform Numbers
This section provides a summary of Hunter Bigge's Major League Baseball pitching statistics and the uniform numbers he has worn throughout his professional career.
4.1. Major League Pitching Statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | W | L | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | CHC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2.70 | 1.50 |
| 2024 | TB | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14.0 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 2.57 | 1.21 |
| 2024 Total | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.1 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 2.60 | 1.26 | |
| MLB: 1 Year | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.1 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 2.60 | 1.26 | |
As of the end of the 2024 season
4.2. Uniform Numbers
Throughout his professional career, Hunter Bigge has worn the following uniform numbers:
- 47 (2024 - July 27, 2024)
- 43 (July 30, 2024 - present)