Red Sox Legend David Ortiz Suffers Gunshot Wound In Dominican Sunday Night

One of the best-known Red Sox legends and former DH, David Ortiz, took a gunshot wound Sunday night at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic. According to ESPN, police officials say Ortiz was ambushed by a man on a motorcycle and shot Ortiz in the back and lower abdomen at point-blank range around 9:00 p.m. local time. Ortiz is currently stable after undergoing surgery, with an update on his status still to come.

There is surveillance footage showing the suspect coming off his motorcycle and shooting Ortiz one time in the back. Only the suspect’s legs are visible, while bystanders cause havoc after the bullet was shot.

Ortiz’s father, Leo Ortiz, said to reporters that, “he is resting right now. He is stable,” according to CNN, he said in Spanish. “Doctors say that David is out of danger, thank God,” Leo said, according to ESPN. “What they have told me post-op is that the doctors believe he will recover quickly. Big Papi will be around for a long time.”

Multiple suspects are currently in custody, but it’s currently unclear if the motorcyclist is one of the suspects detained. According to ESPN, The group of doctors in the surgery had to remove parts of Ortiz’s colon and intestines. His gallbladder was also reportedly removed and he suffered liver damage.

Ortiz grew up in the Dominican Republic, before moving to the States to play baseball 20 years ago. He is most well-known for his 14 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, winning two world series, one in 2004 after lifting the Red Sox “curse” of not winning a World Series since 1918, and in 2013 shortly after the Boston Marathon bombing. Ortiz won the finals MVP that season, tributing their performance to those who suffered from the bombing.

“This jersey that we wear today, it doesn’t say Red Sox. It says Boston,” Ortiz said, according to CNN.