David Ortiz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David Ortiz |
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Ortiz with the Boston Red Sox in 2013
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| Designated hitter | |||
| Born: November 18, 1975 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
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| debut | |||
| September 2, 1997, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 2016, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .286 | ||
| Hits | 2,472 | ||
| Home runs | 541 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,768 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2022 | ||
| Vote | 77.9% | ||
David Américo Ortiz Arias is a famous Dominican-American former professional baseball player. Many fans warmly call him "Big Papi". He played as a powerful designated hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ortiz played for 20 seasons from 1997 through 2016. He spent most of his amazing career with the Boston Red Sox. Before that, he played several seasons for the Minnesota Twins. Ortiz helped the Red Sox end an 86-year World Series championship drought in 2004. He also led the team to win titles in the 2007 and 2013 championships. Because of his amazing hitting, he won the World Series MVP award in 2013. He hit 541 career home runs and collected 1,768 runs batted in. Ortiz was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.
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Early life in the Dominican Republic
David Ortiz was born on November 18, 1975, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He was the oldest child of Enrique Ortiz and Ángela Rosa Arias. As a young boy, he loved watching baseball games. He admired great pitchers like Ramón Martínez and his younger brother Pedro Martínez. David attended games whenever possible and became good friends with Pedro. He attended Estudia Espaillat High School in the Dominican Republic. There, he was a standout star in both baseball and basketball.
Minor league journey to the majors
In November 1992, the Seattle Mariners signed Ortiz when he turned 17 years old. The Mariners listed his name as "David Arias" by mistake. He made his professional debut in 1994 in the Arizona League. He quickly improved his hitting over the next two summers. By 1996, he played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Midwest League. He hit .322 with 18 homers for the Mariners farm team. Baseball magazine Baseball America named him the most exciting player in the league. During his time in Wisconsin, he also became a huge Green Bay Packers fan.
In September 1996, Seattle traded Ortiz to the Minnesota Twins as a player to be named later. He arrived in Minnesota and told the team his last name was Ortiz. During the 1997 season, he quickly advanced through three different minor league clubs. He played for the High-A Fort Myers Miracle, the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, and the Triple-A Salt Lake Buzz. He crushed 31 homers across those levels, earning an immediate call to the majors.
Major League Baseball career
Playing for the Minnesota Twins
Ortiz made his major league debut on September 2, 1997. He collected his first big-league hit with a pinch-hit double against the Chicago Cubs. He hit his first career home run against the Texas Rangers.
In 1998, manager Tom Kelly wanted Ortiz to improve his fielding at first base. Ortiz suffered a broken wrist in May, but he still finished with nine homers. During the 1999 season, the Twins sent Ortiz back down to the Salt Lake Buzz. Ortiz crushed minor league pitching with 30 home runs and 110 runs batted in.
By June 2000, Ortiz proved he belonged in the big leagues permanently. On September 7, he hit a grand slam at Fenway Park against Boston Red Sox starter Ramón Martínez. He finished the year 2000 with 36 doubles and a strong .282 batting average.
Ortiz battled another wrist injury in 2001, but the Twins finished with 85 wins. In 2002, manager Ron Gardenhire took over the team. Ortiz hit a famous home run against his friend Pedro Martínez at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Later, he hit his first career walk-off home run against the Cleveland Indians. The Twins reached the American League Championship Series that fall. Even after Ortiz hit 20 home runs, the Twins released him in December to save money.
Boston Red Sox championship years
After his release, Ortiz talked with his good friend Pedro Martínez. Pedro urged the Boston Red Sox front office to sign the big slugger. Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein signed Ortiz to a contract in January 2003. Ortiz chose uniform number 34 to honor his former teammate and mentor Kirby Puckett.
Ortiz soon won the everyday job as the designated hitter. He crushed 31 home runs and drove in 101 runs in 2003. Boston reached the playoffs and defeated the Oakland A's in the ALDS. They played a dramatic series against the rival New York Yankees in the 2003 ALCS.
In 2004, Ortiz became an official All-Star and formed a great duo with Manny Ramirez. Ortiz hit 41 homers and drove in 139 runs to win a Silver Slugger award. In the playoffs, Ortiz hit a walk-off home run against the Anaheim Angels. Facing the Yankees, Boston fell behind three games to none in the series. Ortiz hit historic walk-off shots in both Game 4 and Game 5. He won the ALCS MVP award as Boston completed an unbelievable comeback. The Red Sox then swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series, breaking the famous Curse of the Bambino.
Ortiz continued his amazing hitting during the 2005 season with 47 home runs and 148 RBIs. He won the prestigious Hank Aaron Award as the best hitter in the American League. Red Sox officials called him the greatest clutch hitter in franchise history.
In 2006, Ortiz signed a contract extension and set a Red Sox record with 54 home runs. He broke the old club mark set long ago by legendary slugger Jimmie Foxx. Ortiz also led the entire league in runs batted in with 137.
In 2007, Ortiz hit .332 with 35 home runs and 52 doubles. He led the league with a .445 on-base percentage. In the postseason, Ortiz batted over .700 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Red Sox swept the Colorado Rockies to win the 2007 World Series.
Later seasons and more titles
Ortiz made the 2008 All-Star team despite missing games with a wrist injury. In 2009, he hit his 300th career home run against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. He also passed slugger Frank Thomas for most home runs hit by a primary designated hitter.
In 2010, Ortiz won the fun Home Run Derby during All-Star festivities. In 2011, he passed designated hitter Edgar Martínez for career RBIs at the position. He also won the respected Roberto Clemente Award for his community work.
Ortiz reached 400 career home runs in July 2012 against the Oakland Athletics. In 2013, Ortiz led the Red Sox to another first-place finish. In the playoffs, he hit a game-tying grand slam against the Detroit Tigers. In the 2013 World Series, he batted an amazing .688 against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Red Sox won the title, and Ortiz won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
In 2014, Ortiz hit his 450th career home run against the New York Yankees. Former Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski called Ortiz one of the best hitters ever, right behind Ted Williams. In September 2015, Ortiz hit his 500th career home run against pitcher Matt Moore of the Tampa Bay Rays. He became only the 27th player in MLB history to hit 500 home runs.
A historic final season in 2016
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Ortiz announced that the 2016 season would be his last before retirement. He had one of the greatest final seasons in baseball history. He hit 38 home runs, drove in 127 runs, and hit 48 doubles. He led the entire league in doubles, RBIs, and slugging percentage. Teams across the country gave him gifts to celebrate his amazing career. The Red Sox retired his famous jersey number 34 in 2017.
Television work and community service
After his playing days ended, Ortiz joined MLB on Fox as an analyst. He worked on television broadcasts during the World Series. In 2026, he even appeared on the television singing show The Masked Singer.
Ortiz created the David Ortiz Children's Fund in 2007. The charity provides critical medical support for children in New England and the Dominican Republic. He also teamed up with UNICEF Kid Power to help children worldwide get food and stay active.
Personal life and Hall of Fame honors
Ortiz earned the nickname "Big Papi" because he called teammates "Papi" when he forgot their names. Broadcaster Jerry Remy helped make the nickname famous everywhere. Ortiz became an official United States citizen in Boston in 2008. Whenever he crossed home plate after hitting a home run, he pointed both index fingers toward the sky to honor his late mother.
Ortiz has children who love sports and music. His daughter sang the national anthem at Fenway Park and at the Hall of Fame ceremony. His son D'Angelo was drafted into professional baseball by the Red Sox in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.
Ortiz was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on his very first try in 2022. He received nearly 78 percent of the vote from baseball writers. Fans and players remember him as one of the best clutch hitters ever to play baseball.
Career achievements and records
- Three-time World Series champion with the Red Sox (2004, 2007, 2013)
- Ten-time MLB All-Star
- Seven-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award
- Hit 54 home runs in 2006 to set the single-season Red Sox record
- Member of the elite 500 home run club
- Finished with 541 career home runs and 632 doubles
Images for kids
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Ortiz with the Boston Red Sox in 2013
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Ortiz with catcher Toby Hall in 2006
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Ortiz at bat during a game in 2006
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Ortiz batting during the 2009 season
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Ortiz waits for a pitch in 2010
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Ortiz during spring training in 2014
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Ortiz batting during the final week of his career in 2016
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Ortiz on sports television in 2018
See also
In Spanish: David Ortiz para niños
