Ortiz shooting leaves rival Yanks shaken

CC Sabathia was shocked when he heard the news. Luis Severino texted him the video in which he could see grainy footage as former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was seemingly ambushed by a gunman and shot in the back Sunday at a Santo Domingo club in his native Dominican Republic.

“It was weird seeing that,” the Yankees veteran lefty said, clearly shaken. “It was shocking.”

Oritiz survived the shooting, but had to undergo several hours of surgery. Doctors said there was damage to his liver and colon, according to reports out of the Dominican Republic. The Red Sox airlifted Ortiz back to Boston for further treatment.

Police in the Dominican told reporters that they had ruled out robbery as the motive and that 23year-old Eddy Feliz Garcia has been ar- rested in connection with the assault.

Sabathia and Ortiz have been friends for years, dating back to when they were both young players trying to find their way in this game.

“He’s always been a great guy. Me and him, we met when he was with the Twins and I was with the Indians and we’ve been friends ever since,” Sabathia said. “He’s just one of those people in the game you kind of just gravitate toward, because of his personality and the way he is. He’s a fun-loving guy, willing to help out with whatever, any kind of charity event I had. He’s always been there.”

News of the shooting reverberated through the Yankee clubhouse. Zack Britton recalled how Ortiz tried to get him to play for the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic, because Britton’s mother is from there. Aaron Boone said that he prayed for Ortiz Monday morning and talked about how he was a player who was a giant in the game.

“There are very few players

that do transcend and do become superstars even in pop culture, in our country and the Domincan Republic. He’s one of those figures everyone knows and I think it’s playing for a franchise like the Boston Red Sox. Being such a great player, being instrumental, obviously a driving force in a lot of their championships,” Boone said. “Couple that with the fact he is one of the guys that when he walks into a room, people pay attention and he lights it up.”

Boone, who played against Ortiz in the heated YankeesRed Sox rivalry back in 2003, also remembered Ortiz as a formidable opposing hitter.

“So intimidating. He was that throughout his entire career,” Boone said. “This isn’t a guy that went out as a diminished player. That perfect combination of great, dangerous powerful hitter but also coupled with in the toughest of situations, the last guy you want to see up there, right? He was that throughout his career.”

The incident in Ortiz’s native country also reminded players and Boone that they can be vulnerable when they are out in public.

“Unfortunately it can be a dark world. Danger sometimes lurks, hopefully we’re all doing our part to educate our guys, support our guys and making sure that they are safe as can be,” Boone said.

Sabathia spoke about his concern for personal safety earlier this year after the murder of rapper Nipsey Hussle. He said Monday that the Yankees players were just discussing that again and noting that with the growing use of social media, it’s easier to find players in public these days.

“Obviously, just being careful where you recording yourself Just talking about that right now. Just letting people know where you’re at,” Sabathia said. “Somebody was recording where he was at, seemed like he was a target.”