David Ortiz
| David Ortiz | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designated hitter | |||
| Born: November 18, 1975 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |||
| |||
| debut | |||
| September 2, 1997, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| Career statistics (through Through 2013) | |||
| Batting average | .287 | ||
| Home runs | 431 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,429 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
| Incoming Member of the National | |||
| Induction | 2022 | ||
| Vote | 77.9% (first ballot) | ||
David Américo Ortiz Arias, also went by David 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 Derby
Early career
[change | change source]Ortiz graduated from Estudia Espaillat High School in the Dominican Republic. 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
[change | change source]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
[change | change source]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
[change | change source]| year | team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | MIN | 15 | 49 | 10 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 19 | .327 | .353 | .449 |
| 1998 | MIN | 86 | 278 | 47 | 77 | 20 | 0 | 9 | 46 | 1 | 39 | 72 | .277 | .371 | .446 |
| 1999 | MIN | 10 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | .000 | .200 | .000 |
| 2000 | MIN | 130 | 415 | 59 | 117 | 36 | 1 | 10 | 63 | 1 | 57 | 81 | .282 | .364 | .446 |
| 2001 | MIN | 89 | 303 | 46 | 71 | 17 | 1 | 18 | 48 | 1 | 40 | 68 | .234 | .324 | .475 |
| 2002 | MIN | 125 | 412 | 52 | 112 | 32 | 1 | 20 | 75 | 1 | 43 | 87 | .272 | .339 | .500 |
| 2003 | BOS | 128 | 448 | 79 | 129 | 39 | 2 | 31 | 101 | 0 | 58 | 83 | .288 | .369 | .592 |
| 2004 | BOS | 150 | 582 | 94 | 175 | 47 | 3 | 41 | 139 | 0 | 75 | 133 | .301 | .380 | .603 |
| 2005 | BOS | 159 | 601 | 119 | 180 | 40 | 1 | 47 | 148 | 1 | 102 | 124 | .300 | .397 | .604 |
| 2006 | BOS | 151 | 558 | 115 | 160 | 29 | 2 | 54 | 137 | 1 | 119 | 117 | .287 | .413 | .636 |
| 2007 | BOS | 149 | 549 | 116 | 182 | 52 | 1 | 35 | 117 | 3 | 111 | 103 | .332 | .445 | .621 |
| 2008 | BOS | 49 | 103 | 40 | 52 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 43 | 0 | 31 | 33 | .250 | .358 | .488 |
| Total | - | 1234 | 4378 | 772 | 1262 | 324 | 12 | 573 | 923 | 9 | 676 | 918 | .288 | .383 | .556 |
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Red Sox legend Ortiz shot in DR, father says". ESPN. June 9, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Red Sox legend Ortiz stable after shooting in DR". ESPN. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
- ↑ "Red Sox Statement Regarding David Ortiz" (Press release). Boston Red Sox. June 10, 2019 – via Twitter.
Other websites
[change | change source]- Fan-driven, Red Sox social media site Archived 2011-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
- Ten Questions for David Ortiz Archived 2008-04-23 at the Wayback Machine on Time.com (a division of Time Magazine)
- Stephan and Big Papi
- David Ortiz Interview Archived 2007-12-12 at the Wayback Machine
- Stephan and Big Papi