David Ortiz should not be a lock for the Hall of Fame

When Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz becomes eligible for the MLB Hall of Fame, his induction is considered inevitable. It should not be.

There is no question that Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz had a prolific career, even if his time in Boston began without fanfare. He was released by the Twins on December 16, 2002, signing with the Red Sox on January 22. At the time, he was expected to split at bats with Jeremy Giambi at first before emerging as one of the most feared sluggers in the game.

Ortiz ended his career in impressive fashion, leading the AL with 48 doubles, 127 RBI, and a 1.021 OPS. Overall, he posted an impressive .286/.380/.552 batting line, belting 541 homers and 632 doubles. He was a ten time All Star, won seven Silver Sluggers, and was a part of three World Series winning teams in Boston, taking home the World Series MVP in 2013.

Based on his numbers and accomplishments alone, that call to Cooperstown would happen as soon as he became eligible in 2022. And yet, that may not be the case. Ortiz has a complicated case that goes far beyond the numbers.

First, he spent most of his career as a designated hitter. Whether the voters want to admit bias or not, a lack of an actual defensive position has been held against players in the past – just look at how long it took Edgar Martinez to be inducted. Or Harold Baines, although his induction is another topic.

Second, there is the giant PED cloud hanging over Ortiz. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens have not been inducted because of PED suspicions. Manny Ramirez has barely cracked 20% of the vote, and Rafael Palmeiro fell off the ballot in four years. Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell had to wait far longer than they should have because of their own PED suspicions.

But there’s a difference between the quartet of Bonds, Clemens, Piazza, and Bagwell and the former Red Sox slugger. None of those four ever tested positive for a PED. Ortiz did, being one of the players named in the Mitchell Report. Yet, somehow, he gets a pass for those positive tests, somehow flying under the radar.

Ortiz does have other intangible factors working in his favor. He was beloved by the Red Sox fans and media during his playing days. There was his iconic speech after the bombing at the Boston Marathon. He was considered to be one of the greatest clutch hitters in baseball history, seemingly always coming through with a big hit or majestic home run when the Red Sox needed it most. But is that going to be enough?

We will not know until David Ortiz appears on the 2022 MLB Hall of Fame ballot. While his statistics say that he should be inducted, the total package casts some doubt on when, or if, that will happen.