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 -. 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
Early career
Ortiz graduated from Estudia Espaillat High School in the Dominican Republic and
in 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 , 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 two more World Series championships in 2007 and 2013.
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. Ortiz was "ambushed by a man who got off a motorcycle" and shot him in the back. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery.
Career statistics
References
Other websites
Fan-driven, Red Sox social media site
Ten Questions for David Ortiz on Time.com (a division of Time Magazine) Stephan and Big Papi David Ortiz Interview Stephan and Big Papi