UNITED STATES—David “Big Papi” Ortiz, former Major League Baseball player for the Boston Red Sox arrived to Boston on Monday, June 10 after he was transferred from a hospital in the Dominican Republic after being shot in the back at a night club. The shooting transpired at the Dial Bar and Lounge on Sunday, June 9 in East Santo Domingo.
According to Ortiz’s father, the bullet struck Ortiz’s back and exited through his abdomen. A plane was sent by Red Sox officials to transport Ortiz to Boston for additional treatment.
Ortiz’s wife Tiffany issued the following statement in response to the shooting:
“On behalf of me and my family, I want to thank John and Linda Henry, Tom Werner, Sam Kennedy and the Boston Red Sox for all that they are doing for David and our family, as well as Dr. Larry Ronan and the amazing staff at Massachusetts General Hospital.”
Ortiz played baseball for more than 20 seasons, with 14 of those seasons with the Boston Red Sox. He is a 10-time All-Star and has won three World Series. He was signed by the Seattle Mariners in 1992, and later traded to the Minnesota Twins in 1996 before signing with the Red Sox in 2003. He finished his career with over 521 home runs.