Retired Boston Red Sox icon David Ortiz has arrived in Fort Myers for spring training, where he will serve as a special assistant.
David Ortiz is back with the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers for spring training!
No, he’s not putting on a uniform to rejoin the roster. We are long past the days of dreaming that Big Papi will come out of retirement to mash in the middle of the Red Sox lineup. That doesn’t mean he won’t make himself useful while he’s hanging around JetBlue Park.
Well, well, well... The last arrival. pic.twitter.com/hobXEay4jH
— Red Sox (@RedSox) February 28, 2018
What exactly Ortiz will be doing with the team in spring training remains a bit unclear. The media guide lists him as a “Special Assistant to Fenway Sports Group.” Presumably, this is some sort of consulting role.
Several of Ortiz’ former teammates have been actively working with the players in camp this spring. It remains to be seen if Ortiz will be as hands-on as Pedro Martinez, Tim Wakefield, and Mike Lowell have been. He may be serving in a different capacity, yet having Big Papi around to share his wisdom and advice can only be considered a positive for this team.
Perhaps Ortiz will spend some time working with Rafael Devers, a fellow Dominican who reminds Ortiz of himself at that age. Ortiz has spoken of how impressed he was with Devers during his rookie season and spring training may finally give him the opportunity to see him up close.
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Ortiz was absent from camp last year, preferring to keep his distance in order to allow the Red Sox to form a new identity without him. Aside from his number retirement ceremony last June, Ortiz didn’t spend much time with the team during his first year of retirement.
We also can’t help but wonder if Ortiz will spend time talking to J.D. Martinez. The 30-year old is already an established star but could still benefit from the advice of the greatest designated hitter in MLB history. Martinez has a mere 151 plate appearances as a DH in his seven-year career. While he’s expecting to see some time in the outfield this year, Martinez will most often be slotted into the DH role. Converting into a primary DH isn’t an easy adjustment for many players. Nobody knows how to make that transition better than Ortiz.
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Ortiz’ larger-than-life personality and natural charisma were traits that were missing from the Red Sox clubhouse last season. He’s no longer a member of the roster yet his presence can still generate excitement that can give the players in camp an extra boost.