5:30 p.m. ET: BOSTON — David Ortiz will be the last Boston Red Sox player to ever wear the No. 34. The former Red Sox designated hitter hung up his bat and cleats for good after last season, but he’ll be back at Fenway Park on Friday for what’s sure to be a very special night for the Red Sox, their fans and the man who helped bring three World Series to Boston. The Sox will retire Ortiz’s No. 34 in a pregame ceremony before Boston hosts the Los Angeles Angels at 7:10 p.m. ET. But the stage already is set at Fenway. The ceremony is scheduled to begin around 6:30 p.m., so
Tag: hitter
Watch Angels’ Albert Pujols Launch Grand Slam For 600th Career Home Run
Share this: Welcome to the club, Albert Pujols. The Los Angeles Angels designated hitter slugged his way into the record books Saturday night against the Minnesota Twins when he clubbed a grand slam for his 600th career home run. Pujols launched the blast in the fourth inning against former teammate Ervin Santana. Pujols became the first member of the club to get his 600th home run by hitting a grand slam. He became the ninth member of the club, and the first to enter the fraternity since Alex Rodriguez hit his 600th bomb in 2010. And Rodriguez congratulated Pujols on Twitter. Pujols also got congratulations from his wife after the round-tripper. Here are the ball and the bat from this historic home run. Miguel Cabrera could be the 10th member
MLB Rumors: Edwin Encarnacion Has Six Multi-Year Offers To Consider
Edwin Encarnacion still hasn’t inked a new deal, but the free-agent slugger apparently has a few options on the table. Paul Kinzer, Encarnacion’s agent, gave an update on where the first baseman/designated hitter’s search for a new team is Wednesday during an appearance with Jeff Blair on Sportsnet590 The FAN. And while Kinzer didn’t say which teams are interested in his client, he did relay this interesting nugget: Reports have indicated that the Toronto Blue Jays are trying to bring Encarnacion back, but Kinzer added in the same interview that he “probably won’t be a Blue Jay,” according to SportingNews.com. Encarna... NESN.com
Replacing David Ortiz: How Can Red Sox Fill Big Papi’s Massive Void?
Share this: BOSTON — The afternoon following his team’s sudden exit in the American League Division Series, Red Sox manager John Farrell likened the feeling to having his “face planted into a brick wall.” He and his staff are going to have to pick themselves up quickly, though, because there’s one pressing offseason dilemma looming. In case you haven’t heard, David Ortiz’s baseball career is over after 20 seasons. In his wake, the 40-year-old designated hitter leaves not only a massive power gap in the middle of Boston’s lineup, but also a huge void in the clubhouse, where he was entrenched as the wise veteran leader on a team with a promising young core. In short: Farrell and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski have their work cut out
David Ortiz Reveals How He Stays Calm Under Pressure In Big Situations
Share this: [embedded content] No one relishes the big moment quite like Big Papi. David Ortiz could be the best clutch hitter in Major League Baseball history, and his ability to come through in key spots stems from his ability to put everything into perspective. The Boston Red Sox designated hitter had a tough upbringing in the Dominican Republic, with violence and poverty being the norm in his neighborhood, so whatever happens on the diamond seems relatively minor in the grand scheme of life. “Let me tell you, man. When I was a kid, I’d be playing in my front yard, in front of my house, and all of a sudden there was a shooting going on, and you were looking at yourself just
Here Are Five Players Who Influenced David Ortiz, As Explained By Big Papi
David Ortiz has been in the majors for 20 years. He has seen a lot of things and has come across a lot of people. Yet certain moments and certain peers stood out in the crowd, leaving behind lasting impressions that impacted the Boston Red Sox designated hitter’s career for the better. NESN’s Tom Caron recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Ortiz. The two discussed a whole bunch of topics, including those who helped shape Big Papi’s illustrious run in Major League Baseball. Several names were mentioned throughout the chat, but Ortiz’s relationships with a certain crop of former big leaguers were highlighted in NESN’s “David Ortiz: The J... NESN.com
Jackie Bradley Jr. Takes Over As Red Sox’s Cleanup Hitter Vs. Angels
David Ortiz won’t be in the Boston Red Sox’s starting lineup against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, which means Jackie Bradley Jr. will slide up to the cleanup spot. The Red Sox center fielder certainly has been hitting like a cleanup hitter of late with his .342 batting average, three home runs and seven RBIs in his last 10 games. Hear what NESN’s Dave O’Brien and Steve Lyons had to say about Bradley in the video from “Red Sox Gameday Live” above. Thumbnail photo via Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images ... NESN.com