Baseball fans would most likely be well informed about David Ortiz’s professional achievements in the game he became a legend in. The retired Boston Red Sox slugger had a highly decorated MLB career which also makes folks be constantly interested in his life off the field. Regardless of how renowned the baseball legend is for his athletic build and prowess, the focus this time around is away from his career trophies. David Ortiz’s kids, wife, and parents have undoubtedly been his support system over the years. Here’s a closer look into the 10-time All-Star’s personal life.
Who are David Ortiz’s Kids and Family Members?
Not much is known about David Ortiz’s mother who died in 2002 at age 46 in an auto crash. But the baseball player apparently inherited his athletic genes from his father Americo Enrique Ortiz, popularly known as Leo Ortiz. The older Ortiz was also a professional baseball player in their home country. Born on November 18, 1975, David is the eldest of his parents’ four children.
Though its been years since Big Papi’s mom passed on, the Dominican star still honors her memory. Not only does Ortiz have a tattoo that resembles his mother on his biceps, but he also credits her for his career success. Big Papi fans would remember the retired baseballer for his signature victory celebration each time he hit a home run. The reason Ortiz always pointed up to the sky at such times was in acknowledgment to God and his mother.
David Ortiz has since made a family of his own and his long-standing union is considered a model by many. The baseball legend is happily married to Tiffany Ortiz. The couple met in 1996 while David was still playing in the minor league. After dating for a while, they tied the knot in November 2002, in a private ceremony. David and Tiffany’s marriage has produced two children – while the first Alexandra was welcomed in 2001, their son D’Angelo joined the family in 2004. They are also proud parents to Jessica, a daughter David had from a previous relationship.
Though David and Tiffany have been together for more than two decades, their relationship hasn’t been without its own troubles. Particularly in April 2013, the couple made a difficult decision to officially part ways but thankfully, they could hardly stay away from each other for so long and were back together barely a year later. It’s safe to say the couple has truly sealed their fate together forever.
What is David Ortiz’s Height?
The native Dominican Republic legend kicked off his career at age 21 with the Minnesota Twins. Ortiz remained with the team until 2002 when the Red Sox signed him up as a free agent. The hybrid player who has an imposing figure is fondly called Big Papi. David Ortiz towers at a height of 6 feet 3 inches and has gigantic forearms and biceps. During his active career days, he weighed about 230 pounds and tried to maintain a diet regimen in order to stay in form and also add more years to his career.
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What Happened To The Baseball Legend?
On June 9, 2019, David Ortiz was involved in a life-threatening situation. While having fun with friends at an outdoor bar in his native Santo Domingo, he was shot and wounded in the back by an unknown assailant on a motorcycle. Investigators initially believed the incident was a case of robbery but have since tagged it an assassination attempt. Though investigations are still on, the suspected gunman and five accomplices who were offered about $7,800 for the hit have been detained.
The former Boston Red Sox star whose liver was damaged underwent an emergency surgery in the Dominican Republic which had doctors remove part of his intestines, colon, and gallbladder. Ortiz was later flown to Boston where he has been certified out of danger and continues to make good progress in his recovery.
Since the shooting, Big Papi’s dad, Leo Ortiz has mostly been the family’s voice, updating the media on the 10-time All-Star’s journey to recovery from the life-threatening condition. While everybody continues to hope for the best for him, David Ortiz’s kids and family admit that the incident has helped them bond even closer and appreciate the life of Ortiz.
