Former Red Sox star Ortiz says he’s glad to be home
BOSTON >> In his first public comments since a botched assassination attempt in his native Dominican Republic, former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz said Monday that he is glad to be home from the hospital and told his fans: “Big Papi will be back soon.”
Following an Instagram post with a statement issued through a Boston public relations agency, Ortiz said he faces several more weeks of recovery from the June 9 shooting at a Santo Domingo nightclub.
“Being at home and look at my family celebrating that l’m here safe is priceless,” Ortiz said in the Instagram post, which included pictures of a steak, pasta and grilled fish. “Too bad l can’t crush food yet !!!! ”
Ortiz, 43, was shot in the back by a hired gunman who drove up on a motorcycle and fired at close range, hitting him in the torso, police said. They said the actual target was supposed to be another man.
Doctors in Santo Domingo removed his gallbladder and part of his intestine, and he was flown the next day on a Red Sox plane to Boston, where he had more surgery. The statement issued Monday confirmed that Ortiz was released from Massachusetts General Hospital on Friday.
“I am feeling good, but know I need to do my rehab just like I did when I was recovering from injuries playing baseball,” Ortiz said in the statement, thanking doctors, Red Sox ownership and other members of the organization for their support.
“They are some of the best teammates I have ever had,” he said.
A 10-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion, Ortiz helped the Red Sox end their 86-year championship drought in 2004 and batted .688 against the St. Louis Cardinals in ’13 to win the Series MVP.
But it was his jovial manner and ready smile that further endeared him to the city. Before the first Red Sox home game after the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, he took the mound with a microphone and told the crowd, “This is our (expletive) city, and no one’s going to dictate our freedom.”
PHILLIES ACQUIRE VARGAS >> The Philadelphia Phillies bolstered their beleaguered rotation by acquiring lefthander Jason Vargas from the New York Mets for Double-A catcher Austin Bossart.
The 36-year-old is 6-5 with a 4.01 ERA, winning his last three starts. He became expendable when the Mets acquired right-hander Marcus Stroman from Toronto on Sunday night for a pair of pitching prospects.
Vargas is expected to start this weekend against the Chicago White Sox. SCHERZER BACK ON IL >> Max Scherzer is back on the 10-day injured list, unwelcome news for the Washington Nationals as they push for a wild-card berth and try to catch the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. The Nationals announced that Scherzer was placed on the IL with a minor rhomboid strain. The injury is in the same area as the inflammation under his right shoulder that forced the ace right-hander to the IL for 19 days earlier this month.
LYLES TRADED TO BREWERS >> Jordan Lyles is heading back to the Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee acquired the 28-year-old right-hander from Pittsburgh for pitching prospect Cody Ponce. Lyles was 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 appearances for the Brewers late last season, helping Milwaukee win the NL Central. He agreed to a $2.05 million, one-year contract with the Pirates and earned a rotation spot, going 5-7 with a 5.36 ERA.
MARISNICK’S SUSPENSION UPHELD >> Houston Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick’s two-game suspension for his violent home plate collision with Los Angeles Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy on July 7 has been upheld by Major League Baseball.