While Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz has already made it clear that he will walk away from baseball following the 2016 campaign, could his hot start to the season change his mind?
David Ortiz is finally calling it quits after nineteen illustrious seasons with both the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox. With the way Ortiz has been swinging the bat over the last few seasons, his announcement came as a shock.
But the now forty-year old Ortiz has decided that enough is enough, and his decision should be respected.
Having said that, Ortiz should have known that many would question his decision especially if he had gotten off to a hot start in 2016, which he has. Ortiz opened up this season with a .319/.413/.638 batting slash line, hitting six home runs and driving in 23 rbi’s.
"“I’m done,” said Ortiz in spring training. “I’ll be 41 next year, and every season it gets harder to prepare. I thought about it a lot and like I have said, it was a chapter in my life and now I go on to something else. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. It’s my time.”"
He might say he’s done, but it’s hard to imagine it actually happening considering how well he’s been playing. Lets look at two factors which could influence Ortiz’s decision, or lack thereof, of calling off his retirement:
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Ability: If there’s one reason why David Ortiz is not retiring, it would be his ability. Over the last three seasons, Ortiz has averaged 34 home runs, and 105 rbi’s.
This three year run doesn’t compare to the one he had from 2004-2006 where he averaged 47 home runs and 141 rbi’s but those were different times. Now, in an era where pitching is high in supply, and productive hitters are hard to come by, Ortiz is a valuable commodity.
This season is a testament to his ability more than any season prior. Aside from his ridiculous slash line, he’s pounding the baseball. For the year, he’s hitting the ball the hardest that he ever has with a 46.7% Hard hit percentage.
Legacy: This is what David’s decision comes down to. If he can still play the game at a high level, and he hasn’t lost the passion, then why should he leave? The answer is his legacy.
With three World Series Championships, and a World Series MVP under his belt, there’s nothing more for the Boston Red Sox slugger to accomplish.
Time and time again we see athletes leave the sport they, love broken down physically and emotionally. For Ortiz, this isn’t the case. He’s leaving the game of baseball on the very top. There’s only a handful of legends that get to do what Ortiz has the opportunity to do.
Next: Has J.A. Happ turned over a new leaf?
The game has never passed David Ortiz by, and I think that’s the way he wants it to be.