David Ortiz

David Américo Ortiz Arias (born November 18, 1975 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter who played for the Boston Red Sox. Ortiz used to play for the Minnesota Twins from 1997-2002. Nicknamed "Big Papi" or "Señor Papi", Ortiz has played in four All-Star Games. He holds the Red Sox single-season record for home runs with 54, which he set during the 2006 season. He also won the 2010 Home Run DeCareer

David Ortiz
Designated hitter
Born: (1975-11-18) November 18, 1975
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Left Throws: Left
debut
September 2, 1997, for the Minnesota Twins
Career statistics
(through Through 2013)
Batting average.287
Home runs431
Runs batted in1,429
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Incoming Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction2022
Vote77.9% (first ballot)

Early career

Ortiz graduated from Estudia Espaillat High School in the Dominican Republic and in 1992 he was signed by the Seattle Mariners who listed him as "David Arias" (possibly not understanding Spanish naming customs). In 1996, the Mariners received Dave Hollins from the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named later. Later that season, the Mariners announced that the player to be named later would be Arias. When Ortiz arrived in Minnesota, he informed the team that he preferred to be listed as "David Ortiz." He made his major league debut in September of 1997. After moving up and down from the majors to the minors, Ortiz hit .272 with 20 home runs and 75 RBI in 2002, when the Twins lost in the American League Championship Series to the eventual World Series champions Anaheim Angels.

Professional career

In 2003, Ortiz was traded to the Boston Red Sox. He hit 31 home runs that season. The Red Sox lost to the New York Yankees in the ALCS.

Starting in 2004, however, Ortiz became known for his clutch hitting. He hit two walk-off home runs in the postseason. His first came when the Red Sox swept the Anaheim Angels in the American League Division Series. He hit another walk-off home run in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees. And he also had a walk-off single in Game 5. He was named ALCS MVP. The Red Sox went on to win their first World Series since 1918. They won three more World Series championships in 2007, 2013, and 2018 (the latter which was won after Ortiz retired).

In Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers, Ortiz hit a game-tying grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Ortiz retired after the 2016 season. The Red Sox were swept by the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS that year.

2019 shooting

On June 9, 2019, Ortiz was shot in the Dominican Republic while at a club in Santo Domingo.[1] Ortiz was "ambushed by a man who got off a motorcycle" and shot him in the back.[2] He was hospitalized and underwent surgery.[2][3]

Career statistics

yearteamGABRH2B3BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLG
1997 MIN1549101630160219.327.353.449
1998 MIN86278477720094613972.277.371.446
1999 MIN10201000000512.000.200.000
2000 MIN13041559117361106315781.282.364.446
2001 MIN893034671171184814068.234.324.475
2002 MIN12541252112321207514387.272.339.500
2003 BOS128448791293923110105883.288.369.592
2004 BOS1505829417547341139075133.301.380.603
2005 BOS159601119180401471481102124.300.397.604
2006 BOS151558115160292541371119117.287.413.636
2007 BOS149549116182521351173111103.332.445.621
2008 BOS49103405290134303133.250.358.488
Total -123443787721262324125739239676918.288.383.556

References

  1. "Red Sox legend Ortiz shot in DR, father says". ESPN. June 9, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  2. "Red Sox legend Ortiz stable after shooting in DR". ESPN. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  3. "Red Sox Statement Regarding David Ortiz" (Press release). Boston Red Sox. June 10, 2019 via Twitter.

Other websites

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