David Ortiz

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 -. 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
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 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. 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
yearteamGABRH2B3BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLG1997MIN1549101630160219.327.353.4491998MIN86278477720094613972.277.371.4461999MIN10201000000512.000.200.000 2000MIN13041559117361106315781.282.364.4462001MIN893034671171184814068.234.324.4752002MIN12541252112321207514387.272.339.5002003BOS128448791293923110105883.288.369.5922004BOS1505829417547341139075133.301.380.6032005BOS159601119180401471481102124.300.397.6042006BOS151558115160292541371119117.287.413.6362007BOS149549116182521351173111103.332.445.6212008BOS49103405290134303133.250.358.488Total-123443787721262324125739239676918.288.383.556

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

Category:1975 births
Category:Living people
Category:Boston Red Sox players
Category:Dominican Republic baseball players
Category:Minnesota Twins players