One of the biggest hitters – and personalities – in Major League Baseball history was immortalized this weekend.

David Ortiz, also known as “Big Papi,” delivered a tearful and heart-wrenching speech in both Spanish and English, expressing his gratitude towards his supporters and not taking what he’s done for granted.

“I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to be here today and for giving me the joy of being able to travel this path, this path that has allowed me to be here today and hopefully inspire everyone to believe in yourself,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz has been one of the most exciting figures in baseball, taking fans’ hearts on and off the field. Starting his career with the Minnesota Twins, before spending thirteen seasons with the Boston Red Sox. He had a breakout season in 2004 earning his first All-Star nod, one of his eventual 10 in his career. He was a seven-time Silver Slugger and three-time World Series Champion, earning MVP honors in 2013.

“I always tried to live my life in a way … so I can make a positive influence in the world,” said the 46-year-old. “And if my story can remind you of anything, let it remind you that when you believe in someone you can change the world, you can change their future, just like so many people believed in me.”

The crowd that filled the field adjacent to Clack Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York chanted “Papi! Papi!” as Dominican flags, and No. 34 jerseys were sprinkled everywhere in the crowd. Many fans made the four-hour drive from Fenway Park to see the Red Sox legend be inducted.

“It’s an honor to be on this stage,” Ortiz said. “I can ask for no more.”

Six other baseball legends were also enshrined on Sunday. This includes former Twins teammates Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva, late Minnie Miñoso, former Dodgers star and Mets manager Gil Hodges, and pioneers Buck O’Neil and Bud Fowler.

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday evening that, among the many deserving candidates on the ballot, the only player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022 will be former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who received 77.9% of votes.

In his final appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot, Barry Bonds fell short of receiving the necessary 75% of votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America for enshrinement in Cooperstown, New York. The all-time home runs leader came in at 66%, his best showing throughout his 10 years on the ballot.

In fact, he gained votes each year, but now it’ll be up to the Today’s Game Committee to put the seven-time NL MVP among baseball’s greats. The committee considers retired MLB players no longer eligible for HoF election by the BBWAA, along with managers, umpires and executives, whose greatest contributions to the game were realized from the 1988-2016 era. The 16-person team will meet again in December; 12 votes are needed for induction.

Many of the voters vowed to never vote for a performance-enhancing drug user, which is why the former Giants left fielder is on the outside looking in—despite never testing positive for a banned substance during his MLB career. It’s also why pitcher Roger Clemens, also in his final year of eligibility, and Alex Rodríguez, his first year on the ballot, did not meet the three-quarters threshold.

In 2009, however, multiple news outlets reported that Ortiz was among the players who tested positive for a banned substance during a 2003 supposedly anonymous testing survey conducted by MLB.

“You can’t tell the story of baseball without David Ortiz. Congrats to him,” Giants pitcher Alex Wood tweeted Tuesday. “But if he can get into the HOF on the first try with a positive test on his résumé then how in god’s name does Bonds and Clemens not get in? The system is now officially broken in my eyes.”

“I know there are a lot of things going on, but to me, [Bonds] was a Hall of Famer way before everything, all the talk, all the things. This is a guy who played the game at a whole different level,” Ortiz said. “Not having (Bonds and Clemens) join me at this time is something that’s hard to believe, to be honest with you. Those guys did it all. It is what it is, and there’s nothing I personally can do about it.”

Bonds did not speak publicly—though he posted on Instagram, “CONGRATULATIONS Big Papi on your induction into the Hall of Fame! Well deserved…I love you my brother.”—following Tuesday’s news, but Clemens released his own statement on social media.

“My family and I put the HOF in the rear-view mirror ten years ago,” he said. “I didn’t play baseball to get into the HOF. I played to make a generational difference in the lives of my family. Then focus on winning championships while giving back to my community and the fans as well. It was my passion. I gave it all I had, the right way, for my family and for the fans who supported me. I am grateful for that support.”

Ortiz’ former teammate Curt Schilling also appeared on his 10th and final ballot this year.

“I’ll defer to the veterans committee and men whose opinions actually matter and who are in a position to actually judge a player,” Schilling wrote on his Facebook page.

The 2022 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place July 24 and includes four Golden Days Era committee inductees—Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Minnie Miñoso, and Tony Oliva—and two Early Baseball Era committee inductees, Bud Fowler and Buck O’Neil.

Other former Giants who were on this year’s ballot include five-time All-Star and 2000 NL MVP Jeff Kent, who garnered 32.7% of the votes; two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who failed to reach the 5% necessary to remain on the ballot.

Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera hit his 500th career home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during Sunday’s 5-3 win.

Cabrera became the first Venezuelan and the 28th player to join MLB’s exclusive 500 home run club. The slugger achieved the feat by hitting a 1-1 changeup off Toronto starter Steven Matz to right field for a 400-foot solo home run in the sixth inning.

“It was nice timing because that tied the game,” Cabrera told reporters Sunday. “That was big for us because we came in trying to win the series.”

“As the first player in the 121-year history of the Detroit Tigers to accomplish this amazing feat, our organization is excited, proud, and thrilled to join you in celebrating this historic moment,” Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch said in a statement. “We thank you for the excitement you have brought to the game and the memories and joy you have brought to our fans. And all of us are rooting for you in the chase for your next milestone, 3,000 hits!”

Cabrera is the first player to hit 500 career home runs since Boston Red Sox‘s David Ortiz reached the milestone in 2015. The Detroit slugger also joins Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Albert Pujols as the only other active player to have reached the milestone.

Now that he achieved his 500th career home run, Cabrera sets his sights on reaching 3,000 career hits. Only 32 players have finished their careers with 3,000 hits. Cabrera currently has 2,955 career hits. He said it was his goal to reach 500 home runs and 3,000 hits in 2021. However, it seems unlikely he’ll reach the hit mark by the end of the regular season. The 38-year-old batter is currently signed to Detroit through 2023 and could join six players in the 3,000/500 club.

Oakland Athletics pitcher and former Astros‘ pitcher Mike Fiers has reportedly received death threats after revealing that Houston stole signs during the 2017 playoffs in a report to The Athletic released in November. Fiers was a member of the Astros during that time and exposed Houston’s use of cameras to illegally steal signs. Following the season, he signed with Detroit and was later traded to Oakland.

“Whatever, I don’t care. I’ve dealt with a lot of death threats before. It’s just another thing on my plate,” Fiers told the San Francisco Chronicle on Thursday. “If I’m worried about any retaliation, I’m not going to be ready for the season.”

During a press conference on Tuesday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said, “We will take every possible step to protect Mike Fiers wherever he’s playing, whether it’s in Houston or somewhere else.”

Redsox legend David Ortiz bashed Fiers as he spoke to the media from the team’s spring training facility in Florida Thursday.

“I’m mad at this guy, the pitcher who came out talking about it,” Ortiz told ESPN. “And let me tell you why. Oh, after you make your money, after you get your ring, you decide to talk about it. Why don’t you talk about it during the season when it was going on? Why didn’t you say, ‘I don’t want to be no part of it?’ So you look like you’re a snitch. Why you gotta talk about it after? That’s my problem. Why nobody said anything while it was going on?”

Fiers hasn’t responded to Ortiz and told The Athletic on Wednesday “I can defend myself” and doesn’t need extra security from the MLB. However, he did mention his concern for the safety of his family, according to the Chronicle. Fiers also claimed he was heavily involved with the Astros’ operation and accepts full responsibility.

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“I said from the beginning, ‘I’m not away from this. I was part of that team, I was one of those guys,'” Fiers said. “Suspensions, fines — I’m willing to take as much punishment as they do. If they ask me to [return the ring], it’s not the end of the world.”

David Ortiz is returning to Fox as an analyst for studio coverage during MLB playoff games, it was reported this week.

The former Boston Red Sox designated hitter suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound in his native Dominican Republic on June 9. He will return to his role as an analyst during Fox’s pre-game and post-game playoff coverage on the network’s properties. Ortiz is one of the best men for the job, as he has appeared in countless playoff series and won three World Series with the Red Sox during his illustrious career.

It was a difficult recovery for Ortiz, as he was flown in by the Red Sox organization from the Dominican Republic to Boston. He received care at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he underwent three operations. He made his first public appearance three months after the shooting by throwing out the first pitch of a Red Sox home game at Fenway Park on September 9.

The city of Boston and the organization loves “Big Papi” and did their part to ensure his safety after such an ordeal. Despite the shooting, Ortiz isn’t changing his welcoming ways and is still being a little more cautious. He talked about the incident with Sporting News.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

“I like to embrace people, make them feel comfortable around me,” said Ortiz. “I was always very accessible, but I think I’m going to cut down on that a little now. One lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t be naive.”

“There are a lot of things going on now that you have to be aware of. I need to pay attention and be more careful,” he added.

On Tuesday, Ortiz teased his return by tweeting a picture of him on set with host Kevin Burkhardt and co-commentators Alex Rodriguez and Frank Thomas. Ortiz simply captioned the photo,”Soon.”

Still recovering from a gunshot wound, former Boston Red Sox star and future Hall of Famer David Ortiz underwent a third surgery earlier this week after complications arose.

Ortiz’s wife, Tiffany, offered some light to the public as Ortiz remains hospitalized as she simply claimed that her husband, “is recovering well and in good spirits.” The gunshot from an alleged mistaken identity incident on June 9 left Dominican Republic doctors with no choice but to remove parts of Ortiz’s gallbladder and intestine before the Red Sox sent an air ambulance to fly Ortiz to the United States before undergoing his second surgery a day later. Dominican authorities have arrested nearly 12 suspects who allegedly contributed to the attack, including an apparent “mastermind” named Víctor Hugo Gómez on June 28.

Just recently retired, Ortiz reigns as a Boston sports legend, as he won three World Series titles with the Red Sox in 2004, 2007, and 2013. Ortiz also hit 541 home runs during his 20 year MLB career, the tied for the 15th most in baseball history. To honor Ortiz, the Red Sox even named both a bridge and road adjacent to Fenway Park after him.

“We continue to be incredibly appreciative of the kindness and compassion shown to David and to our entire family during this difficult time,” said Ortiz’s wife once more when adding to her statement. Since the attack, the support and praise for Ortiz only to grows louder each day, as nearly all cities and teams engaged within the sporting world quickly joined the always passionate Boston fan base to voice their best wishes for the beloved slugger.

Ortiz continues his recovery while Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

The Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins met for the first time this season on Monday, with the Red Sox beating the AL Central Leaders.

The Sox are now 7-3 in their last 10 games with six wins straight, and will be looking to carry that momentum throughout the rest of the series on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Twins currently boast the best record in baseball, but have lost four of their last 10 games.

Along with the best record, the Twins have the best run differential as well, thanks to their offense and their underestimated pitching. Rick Porcello started on the mound for the Sox Monday night and pitched for seven innings to give the Sox a much-needed win. Porcello allowed just four hits and added eight strikeouts to a strong performance. For Tuesday Night, the World Series closer David Price faces off against Michael Pineda on the hill. The former New York Yankee Pineda has been nursing his arm after missing the entire 2018 season and is slowly returning to full fitness. Pineda has started 13 times this season and has a 5.04 ERA. Pineda’s last start, however, against the Seattle Mariners, gave up only one run in five innings.

“We’re playing good baseball. We’ve got a lot of baseball to play, though,” Porcello said, according to Boston.com.

With their underrated stars, the Twins are on pace to have a 107-win regular season. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Twins are currently on pace to hit 313 home runs in the 2019 season, which would beat the Yankees’ current record of 267 from last season.

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The Twins had a warming tribute to the Red Sox great David Ortiz before Monday’s first pitch, celebrating the career he had and wishing him good health after Ortiz was shot at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic.

The Sox are currently third in the AL East, 5.5 games behind the first-place Yankees and three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Twins are 23-12 at home this season, and host the Red Sox for the remainder of the series. The Red Sox are still favorites, with Caesars Palace and Bet365 having them at -1.5, with the O/U at 9.5 and the money line at -118 for the Sox. The second game of the series starts at 8:10 p.m. EST on Tuesday night.

The story behind the man who shot David Ortiz last week in the Dominican Republic has taken another twist and turn.

Six suspects, including the gunman, have been detained, the Dominican Republic’s chief prosecutor said in a statement delivered on Wednesday.

“At this moment, they are being interrogated, and we will continue deepening the investigation to get to the truth about what happened,” chief prosecutor Jean Alain Rodriguez said.

“Nobody involved in this lamentable episode will remain in impunity, not even the material or intellectual author” of the crime, he said.

“In one of the videos, it was possible to observe both the accused and the shooter planning the commission of the incident right on Octavio Mejia Ricart Street, which is parallel to the place where the event took place,” the prosecutors said.

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The alleged gunman, identified as Rolfy Ferreya, or Sandy, is in custody, according to the police. Also in police custody is a man who Police Maj. Gen. Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte claims is the alleged coordinator of Ortiz’s shooting. According to Almonte, the alleged coordinator of the attack on Ortiz was offered 400,000 Dominican Pesos, or $7,800 USD, to carry out the shooting.

Among the other suspects still at large are Luis Alfredo Rivas Clase, aka The Surgeon, as well as a woman known as The Venezuelan, or Red, and two other men, prosecutors said in a statement.

Earlier this week, following the shooting, David Ortiz was transported via helicopter from a hospital in the Dominican Republic to Massachusetts General Hospital, courtesy of the Boston Red Sox. According to Ortiz’s wife, since being transported to Mass. General, Oritz has been able to sit up and take some steps as Oritz continues to recuperate and recover.

“His condition is guarded, and he will remain in the ICU for the coming days, but he is making good progress toward recovery,” Tiffany Ortiz said in the statement.

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.

David Ortiz had nothing to say about John Farrell following the Boston Red Sox manager’s firing after five seasons.

Red Sox Manager John Farrell Fired After Five Seasons

The 41-year-old former slugger praised Farrell in a segment on Fox Sports on Wednesday.

“I live in Boston, and in Boston, the whole talk sometime during the year was that that was going to happen,” said Ortiz. “Managing in a big market, it’s a survive-and-advance type of job, so it finally ended up happening. I played for John, and John was a good manager to me. He kept things under control in the clubhouse. But like I said, managing in a big market is hard. It’s not an easy thing to do.”

Ortiz played under Farrell from 2013 to 2016. The Red Sox won the World Series in Farrell’s first year in charge, and also won three division titles during his tenure while nevertheless finishing last twice. He posted a 432-378 record in Boston, where he had one year remaining on his contract. Farrell’s victory total ranks sixth in club history.

“Despite an end to this season that we all wanted to be different, I am proud of this ball club and the resiliency shown,” Farrell said in a statement released by the Red Sox. “I have enjoyed every moment of this job — its peaks and its valleys. There are few, if any, positions in life that create so much passion on a daily basis.”

The Red Sox lost three of their four games against the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series, including a 5-4 home loss on Monday.

Cleveland Indians skipper Terry Francona, Farrell’s predecessor in Boston, said:  “I talked to Johnny today — I mean, he’s one of my dear friends. … Knowing John, the way I do, he’ll land on his feet and he’ll be in a better position than he was before,” Francona said, per Boston.com. “I do think, for whatever reason, that place is a little crazy. I think (Farrell) felt like he probably had a target on his back for a while. He said he was at peace with it. And I think he’s done some amazing things.”

General manager Dave Dombrowski said Farrell’s replacement would need to be comfortable in front of the media and relatable to the squad’s younger players.

“He gave me every opportunity to succeed,” said pitcher Chris Sale. “I can say the same for everybody on this team.”

BOSTON, MA – JUNE 03: Manager John Farrell #53 of the Boston Red Sox does an interview prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on June 3, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. Toronto won the game 5-2. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)

Although scores of fans wished David Ortiz had stayed with the Boston Red Sox for just a little while longer, the 41-year-old designated hitter stated several times that the 2016 season would be his last.

David Ortiz Says Red Sox’ Chris Sale Trade ‘Got Him Thinking’

On Tuesday, however, the Red Sox acquired Chicago White Sox left-hander Chris Sale in a major trade, and Ortiz couldn’t help but comment his excitement.

The former Dominican slugger, nicknamed ‘BIg Papi,’ took to Instagram Tuesday to post the following:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNsljbahEPp/

“You guys got me thinking?” is a vague phrase that could be interpreted several different ways, one of which could be a potential return to play for Ortiz. The former designated hitter could also be suggesting he wants to become an MLB owner, manager or coaching staff member. Who knows? Evidently, we will have to wait to find out.

Ortiz could simply be messing with Red Sox fans, however. He has said multiple times that his body is beaten up and that preparing for games has become a heavy task for him. Throughout his entire farewell tour, Ortiz sounded like the type of player who was committed to his decision to step away from the game for good, regardless of how the season ended or of anything else.

The Red Sox failed to win a playoff game this year. The team continued moving on Tuesday, signing Mitch Moreland to a one-year deal.

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 10: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after the second inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the American League Divison Series at Fenway Park on October 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and newly-retired Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz have been named this year’s Hank Aaaron Award winners as the top offensive players in their respective leagues.

Kris Bryant, David Ortiz Named 2016 Hank Aaaron Award Winners

Bryant and Ortiz received their awards in a ceremony before Wednesday’s Game 2 of the World Series by Aaron and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. 

“It is an honor that the awards, which distinguish the top offensive performers in baseball, have my name on it,” Aaron said, according to Mark Newman of MLB.com. “I want to congratulate Kris and David on their terrific seasons and extend my thanks to the Hall of Famers and fans who once again helped select the winners.”

Ortiz, 40, won the award for an incredible season that saw him break records for players in his age bracket. The Dominican designated hitter slashed 315/.401/.620 with 38 homers and 79 runs scored while leading the American League in slugging percentage, OPS (1.021), doubles (48), and RBIs (137) over 151 games.

His RBI total set a new single-season record for players aged 40 or over; additionally, he now holds records for the most homers, RBIs, doubles, and extra-base hits (87) during a final season.

Bryant followed up his award-winning rookie season with an even better campaign for the National League champion Cubs. The 24-year-old led Chicago’s lineup by hitting .292/.385/.554 with an NL-best 121 runs scored, 39 homers, 35 doubles, and eight stolen bases. After striking out a league-best 199 times in 2015, Bryant reduced his strikeout total to 154 this year.

“I grew up watching Big Papi on the Red Sox get to this point and win a World Series, and hopefully I can do that here,” Bryant said, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. “I’ve been through some pretty cool things recently, but this is something I’m going to have to pinch myself.”

This marks the second time Ortiz has won the prestigious award; he also received the honor in 2005. Bryant is the third Cub to win the award, joining Sammy Sosa in 1999 and Aramis Ramirez in 2008.

Game 3 of the World Series is set for Friday night at Wrigley Field.

The Cleveland Indians entered the American League Division Series as underdogs, but have now reached the AL Championship Series.

Indians Beat Red Sox 4-3 For ALDS Sweep In David Ortiz’s Final Game

The Tribe held off the Boston Red Sox 4-3 at Fenway Park on Monday night to complete a three-game sweep in veteran slugger David Ortiz’s final career game.

Cleveland made history. Four more victories, and the Indians will reach their first World Series since 1997, and their first ALCS since 2007.

“We might not be the most talented team in this league,” said Indians manager Terry Francona, champagne dripped from the brim of his hat. “But, that doesn’t mean we can’t win. And I think everybody in here believes that. We get to keep playing. That’s the best thing I can say. We get to keep playing. Hopefully, when it’s time to go home, it can be on our terms.”

Right-hander Josh Tomlin ignored the jeers of a Fenway crowd that mockingly chanted his name and delivered a strong, five-inning effort. Coco Crisp hit a critical home run, and Francona relied heavily again on his bullpen to secure the win.

The Indians will now face the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS, beginning on Friday at Progressive Field. Toronto is led by team president Mark Shapiro, who spent the previous 24 years in Cleveland’s front office.

As Cleveland’s players celebrated inside the cramped confines of Fenway’s visitors’ clubhouse, Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti stated he was eagerly anticipating the upcoming challenge against Shapiro’s familiar face.

“I wouldn’t be standing here today and having this opportunity, if it wasn’t for Mark,” Antonetti said as the players partied behind him. “For both of us to advance to the ALCS is really a dream come true. At a minimum, we know one of the two of us is going to end up in the World Series. Obviously, right now, I’ve got a strong preference on which one.”

Cleveland’s bullpen led the team into the ALCS. After a 4-1 lead with none out in the sixth, Francona turned to Andrew Miller. The lefty got six big outs and left with a two-run lead. Bryan Shaw recorded the first two outs in the eighth, and closer Cody Allen got the final four outs of the game.

“It’s impressive because we got it done,” Miller said. “This offense that we faced, this team is so great, but particularly from the perspective of a relief pitcher, this offense is just unbelievable. To find a way, it doesn’t have to be pretty, and it wasn’t tonight.

“I think certainly, Bryan and Cody and I would like to be more efficient and effective and straightforward, but it’s just these guys are so darn good. And just find a way to get it done is all that matters at the end of the day.”

Allen struggled at first in the eighth as the retiring Ortiz walked. Hanley Ramirez smacked a single to make it a one-run game. However, Xander Bogaerts lined one right to second, and the Indians escaped yet another threat. Allen again evaded trouble in the ninth, working out of a two-on, two-out jam and clinching the series by inducing Travis Shaw’s flyout to right.

Just like that, the end of this season also marked the end of Red Sox slugger Ortiz’s career, 11 months after the veteran Dominican star announced he would be retiring.

“Given how we performed as an offensive team throughout the year, and it’s not to take anything away from their pitching, but I think there was no more than one run we were able to score in any one inning,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “The inability to string some hits together, generate the bigger inning, that wasn’t there.

“So that puts us in a spot where we are today.”

Due to the three-game sweep against the Red Sox, the Indians can align their rotation as they see fit. The Game 1 starter hasn’t been announced, but ace Corey Kluber would be a safe bet to take the ball in the ALCS opener against the Blue Jays on Friday night.

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 10: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after the second inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the American League Divison Series at Fenway Park on October 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Boston Red Sox may just be coming off a three-game road sweep by the New York Yankees, after losing 5-1 on Thursday, but they will still have something to celebrate this weekend — or someone, to be exact.

Red Sox Honor David Ortiz With Giant Portrait in Fenway Park Grass

The Red Sox will pay tribute to retiring designated hitter David Ortiz this weekend, and though they have kept much of the festivities secret, one big aspect of them can be seen from above.

WBZ-TV’s SkyEye spotted a massive portrait of Ortiz cut into the center field grass at Fenway Park.

The portrait shows the 40-year-old Dominican pointing to the sky, his signature move that comes every time he hits a home run.

Boston clinched the American League East title on Wednesday despite losing that night to the Yankees, who have now been eliminated from the playoffs. On Thursday night, Red Sox manager John Farrell got very frustrated with a heckler at Yankee Stadium. The fan reportedly asked Farrell why Boston was trotting out its B-lineup with playoff seeding on the line.

“Why don’t you shut your ass up?” Farrell angrily retorted.

The Yankees also honored Ortiz in a very special way on Thursday. Before the game, Jacoby Ellsbury and David Cone presented Ortiz, nicknamed ‘Big Papi,’ with a leather-bound book of farewells, before Mariano Rivera made a surprise appearance with a painting as a second gift, before ‘Sweet Caroline’ was played over the PA.

On Friday night, the Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays for their final (three-game) regular-season series.

Team officials have stated they have pre-game celebrations planned for Ortiz before all three games, as he prepares for the final postseason of his career.

The specifics have not been announced, although fans have been asked to be in their seats approximately 30 minutes early prior to each game.

Boston (92-67) will open the American League Division Series on Thursday, though the time and opponent are yet to be determined.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 06: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on July 6, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

David Ortiz received quite a fun surprise built to honor him at Fenway Park on Wednesday.

Red Sox Unveil Life-Size LEGO Statue Of Retiring DH David Ortiz at fenway park

Wednesday was LEGO Day at the old ballpark, and before the Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 8-6, the 40-year-old Dominican designated hitter was celebrated in a rather special manner: the Red Sox unveiled a life-sized LEGO statue of Ortiz, one that will be kept at the stadium.

The 6-foot-7, 170-pound replica was made using 34,510 LEGO pieces and looks impressive, even though it doesn’t have the exact same dimensions as Ortiz (6’3″, 230 lbs). Lego master builder Erik Varszegi, per ESPN.com’s David Schoenfield, noted that there is a steel bar from the head to the top of the legs holding the work of art together. If it had been constructed entirely out of Legos, the statue would weigh approximately 400 pounds. The statue reportedly took 290 hours of labor to complete. 

This is not the first statue/portrait of a prominent MLB player to be revealed this season. One month ago, the San Francisco Giants set up a huge Madison Bumgarner double at AT&T Park.

Ortiz’s statue comes complete with tattoos, as well as his sunglasses and signature move of pointing skyward with both hands while looking up. The Red Sox star couldn’t resist posing next to it.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 06: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on July 6, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz gave one final pre-game speech before his last Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Diego Tuesday night.

David Ortiz Inspires AL Teammates With Speech Before MLB All-Star Game

The 10-time All-Star and three-time World Series Champion has a .332 batting average and 22 home runs, so it came as no surprise that all eyes and ears were trained on him as he delivered his speech in the American League clubhouse at Petco Park.

“The one thing I can tell you guys about having a great career at this level is the fact that everyday, everyday you got to bring something to the table for your ballclub,” Ortiz said prior to the Midsummer Classic, his final appearance. “It doesn’t matter how you feel — sometimes you’re not gonna feel 100 percent to do it, but the most important thing is the mindset. Those days that your mind tells you, ‘Hey, you can’t go,’ you say, ‘Yes I can.’ That’s what makes the difference.”

Here is the full speech by Ortiz, aka ‘Big Papi.’

“Tonight, let’s go out there and whoop some ass,” Ortiz said at the end of his spiel.

The 40-year-old Dominican, who will retire after the season, recalled seeing legendary players like Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter make pre-game speeches in years past and how it made him emotional.

Ortiz has been known for giving several inspiring speeches himself, including one at Fenway Park just days after the Boston marathon bombings in April 2013.

“It’s extremely hard to get here. You don’t get to the All-Star Game just because you have a good name,” Ortiz said Tuesday. “That’s not how it works. You look at the stats on the board; everybody has pretty good numbers.

“You have to look at your career. It’s a wonderful career but it takes a lot of work.”

He and fellow Red Sox Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts all contributed to the American League’s 4-2 victory over the National League on Tuesday night, the fourth straight win for the AL.

If the Red Sox advance to the World Series, they’ll benefit by having home-field advantage.

“It was special. It was from the heart. It had a lot of passion,” said Bradley. “I’ve seen him talk like that before. He shared that he wants the game to get better. He wants the torch passed down.”

 Ortiz has been with the Red Sox since 2003. Before that, he spent five years with the Minnesota Twins, with whom he made his Major League debut on September 2, 1997. He won all three of his World Series (2004, 2007, 2013) with Boston, and was also the World Series MVP in 2013.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 06: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on July 6, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

David Ortiz hit his 20th home run to lead the Boston Red Sox to an 11-6 home victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.

David Ortiz Hits 20th HR In Red Sox’ 11-6 Home Win Over Rangers

The Red Sox, who now lead their series against the Rangers at Fenway Park 2-1, broke out to an 11-1 lead after just four innings.

“We need it,” said Ortiz. “This is a time of the season when you start looking at the scoreboard, the standings. Everything matters from now on.”

Boston right-hander Steven Wright went six-plus innings to earn his 10th win one day after being named to the American League All-Star team. For the second time in two starts, Wright didn’t allow an earned run over the first five innings. He gave up two in the sixth and three in the seventh to make it a five-run game.

Rangers lefty Martin Perez struggled, getting pounded for nine hits and 11 runs (seven earned) over four innings. Texas’ infield defense didn’t help Perez much, committing three errors in a five-run second inning.

“I have never seen that ballclub make that many errors,” said Ortiz. “They’ve got a great defense. It’s one of those days where things didn’t work out. And you know how good-hitting ballclubs are. When they make a mistake, we make you pay.”

The 40-year-old Dominican, nicknamed “Big Papi,” opened scoring for Boston with a two-run homer to right-center field off Perez to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

As he crossed home plate, Ortiz kissed his own hands and pointed to the sky as he looked up, a gesture he has often repeated. Just one day earlier, the veteran designated hitter had seemed frustrated with his hitting. In an at-bat during the ninth inning of the Red Sox’ 7-2 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday, Ortiz broke his bat over his knee en route to first base.

However, he seemed to find his groove again on Wednesday.

“Last night, I felt like I was kind of using my bottom hand too much, but it happens,” said Ortiz. “That’s part of the game. That’s why the season is so long. I like making adjustments real quick, real fast.”

Ortiz became the 15th player 40 or older to hit 20 home runs in a season.

Mookie Betts drove an RBI double off the high left-field wall, dubbed the “Green Monster,” to extend Boston’s lead to 5-1 in the second inning. Ryan Hanigan then scored on a fielding error by shortstop Elvis Andrus, pushing the Red Sox’ lead to 6-1 in the second. That same inning, the Rangers defense committed two other crucial errors. Second baseman Rougned Odor and third baseman Adrian Beltre, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner, also bobbled grounders. As a team, Texas now has 46 errors on the season.

“That second inning is something we haven’t seen since last year,” said Rangers manager Jeff Banister. “The reality is, we’re probably not going to see it again. We’ve got some outstanding defenders. They handle the baseball very well.”

Right-hander Jose Leclerc, the Rangers’ No. 23 prospect, entered for his Major League debut in the fifth inning with Texas trailing by 10 runs. Instead of adding to the deficit, the 22-year-old Dominican pitched like a natural and earned praise from Banister. Leclerc allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out four in 2 2/3 innings against the Majors’ top offense. Of the 51 pitches Leclerc threw, 31 were strikes.

After one of the worst outings of his career on Tuesday night in a non-save situation, right-handed Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel told manager John Farrell he wanted to pitch on Wednesday, regardless of the score. Kimbrel came on with a five-run lead and worked around two walks while also striking out two.

Bryce Bentz (2-for-4, 3 RBIs) hit a bloop single to right field, bringing home two runs and extending the Red Sox’ lead to 11-1 in the fourth. Prince Fielder ripped a two-run homer in the sixth, one inning before Ian Desmond lined a two-run triple off the center-field wall to cut the Rangers’ deficit to 11-5 in the top of the seventh.

The Rangers (53-33, 1st in AL West) next return home for the opener of a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night. Right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez will take the mound for Texas.

Following an off-day on Thursday, the Red Sox (46-38, 3rd in AL East) will open a three-game home series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Right-hander Sean O’Sullivan, coming off a win, will make the start.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 06: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on July 6, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Seven scoreless innings from Matt Moore and an off-performance from David Price was all the Tampa Bay Rays needed to spoil the Red Sox left-hander’s return to St. Petersburg.

Rays left fielder Brandon Guyer returned from a three-week stretch on the disabled list to homer and drive in two runs, leading Tampa Bay to a 4-0 win over Boston, making Price 1-3 lifetime against his former club.

Guyer missed 23 games due to a hamstring strain, but returned to the lineup Wednesday and promptly homered in the second inning to give the Rays the lead and then made it 4-0 after a double down the left field line in the third.

Moore carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning until it was broken up by Christian Vasquez who singled to lead off the inning.

Price allowed four earned runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings, walking one batter and striking out 10.

The only threat the Red Sox posed all afternoon came in the sixth following the Vasquez single. Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts both singled to load the bases on Moore with only one out. But David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez both flied out to end the threat.

It was the second time in 2016 that Price was defeated by his former team.

David Ortiz has proven to be a dangerous player for the New York Yankees ever since he joined the Boston Red Sox in 2003. Nevertheless, he has a special request for Yankees fans as his retirement approaches.

David Ortiz’s Special Retirement Request For Yankees Fans

The Red Sox designated hitter and first baseman will make his final regular-season trip to Yankee Stadium from Sept. 27-29, and he has stated that he would like to remember it fondly.

“You know what I want most of all?” Ortiz told the New York Post. “I would love it if the fans at Yankee Stadium gave me a standing ovation.”

Ortiz, who announced during the offseason in November that the 2016 season would be his last, has hit .306/.395/.565 with 47 homers and 158 RBI in 224 regular-season games against the Yankees. He also had two walk-off hits in Boston’s surprising comeback in the 2004 ALCS after trailing 3-0 in the series.

Although the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry has cooled down in recent years, it will undoubtedly still be difficult for New York fans to cheer for the enemy.

However, Red Sox fans did give Yankees legends Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera similar sendoffs at Fenway Park during their final seasons.

During Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, David Ortiz had a little bit of a run-in with the umpires.  Papi has had his fair share of arguments with officiating crews, but it looks like his latest could result in him missing a game and losing some money.

In the fifth inning, Papi was facing  Miguel Gonzalez with a 1-1 count. Initially, it looked like Ortiz was fooled by Gonzalez’s breaking ball, however, the replay showed him checking his swing. Either way, the call was certainly close, but third-base umpire Jerry Meals saw enough to call it a strike.

After the call, Ortiz threw his bat down in anger and begin to yell towards third-base. John Tumpane, the home plate umpire, seemed to have enough and quickly threw the longtime Red Sox out of the game.

This was when Ortiz exploded, getting into the face of Tumpane, which is where David made incidental contact with him. Out of all things, the league office takes contact with an ump, accidental or not, very serious.

Eventually, Sox manager, John Farrell, got in between the two, resulting in Papi throwing his bat and helmet in disgust before walking into the dugout.

And yesterday, his penalty was finally released. “Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for making contact with Umpire John Tumpane,” stated Joe Garagiola, Jr., Senior Vice President of Standards & On-Field Operations for MLB.

Ortiz, who has been actively criticizing the game’s new batter’s box rule, is currently appealing the MLB’s decision. In the video, it is really hard to tell if the DH actually made contact, however, it may be close enough for the league to uphold their decision.

The Red Sox ended up losing the game 8-3, but are currently in first place of the AL East. As for Ortiz, he has been struggling, batting .205 with two home runs and four RBIs.