Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Tuesday 30 July 2019

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz

says he's glad to be home

and told his fans: "Big Papi back by a hired gunman teammates I have ever
will be back soon."Following who drove up on a mo- had," he said.
an Instagram post with a torcycle and fired at close A 10-time All-Star and
statement issued through range, hitting him in the three-time World Series
a Boston public relations torso, police said. They said champion, Ortiz helped the
agency, Ortiz said he fac- the actual target was sup- Red Sox end their 86-year
es several more weeks of posed to be another man. championship drought
recovery from the June 9 Doctors in Santo Domingo in 2004 and batted .688
shooting at a Santo Domin- removed his gallbladder against the St. Louis Cardi-
In this Oct. 10, 2016, file photo, Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz go nightclub. and part of his intestine, nals in '13 to win the Series
waves from the field at Fenway Park after Game 3 of baseball's
American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians "Being at home and look at and he was flown the next MVP.
in Boston. my family celebrating that day on a Red Sox plane to But it was his jovial manner
Associated Press lm here safe is priceless," Boston, where he had more and ready smile that fur-
Ortiz said in the Instagram surgery. The statement is- ther endeared him to the
By JIMMY GOLEN tempt in his native Domini- post, which included pic- sued Monday confirmed city. Before the first Red
AP Sports Writer can Republic, former Red tures of a steak, pasta and that Ortiz was released Sox home game after the
BOSTON (AP) — In his first Sox slugger David Ortiz said grilled fish. "Too bad l can't from Massachusetts Gen- Boston Marathon bomb-
public comments since a Monday that he is glad to crush food yet!!!!" eral Hospital on Friday. ing in 2013, he took the
botched assassination at- be home from the hospital Ortiz, 43, was shot in the "I am feeling good, but mound with a microphone
know I need to do my re- and told the crowd, "This is
hab just like I did when I our (expletive) city, and no
was recovering from injuries one's going to dictate our
playing baseball," Ortiz said freedom."
in the statement, thanking Ortiz retired after the 2016
doctors, Red Sox ownership season with 541 home runs,
and other members of the and the team quickly re-
organization for their sup- tired his uniform No. 34. The
port. city named a street outside
"They are some of the best the ballpark after him.q