David Américo Ortiz Arias (born November 18, 1975), nicknamed “Big Papi,” is a Dominican-American former professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman. He played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2016, primarily for the Boston Red Sox.
Ortiz played a key role in ending the Red Sox’s 86-year World Series championship drought in 2004 and winning titles in 2007 and 2013, earning World Series MVP in 2013. A 10-time All-Star, he set MLB records for career home runs (485) and RBIs (1,569) as a DH. In 2022, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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David Ortiz Net Worth
David Ortiz has a net worth of $55 million. In 2016, the year he retired, David and his wife Tiffany purchased a 1-acre undeveloped property in Miami for $1.5 million and built a 10,200-square-foot mansion. The home features two-floor bedrooms, with sleeping areas upstairs, each opening to the pool.
The master bedroom has two bathrooms. In February 2023, they listed the mansion for $12.5 million. They accepted $10.55 million in May 2023, setting a sale record for Pinecrest, Florida.
Early life
David Ortiz was born on November 18, 1975, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as the oldest of four children of Enrique (Leo) Ortiz and Ángela Rosa Arias.
As a boy, he admired the careers of standout pitcher Ramón Martínez and his younger brother Pedro Martínez, attending games and building a friendship with Pedro that grew over time. Ortiz graduated from Estudia Espaillat High School in the Dominican Republic, where he was a standout baseball and basketball player.
Career
On November 28, 1992, David Ortiz was signed by the Seattle Mariners just 10 days after his 17th birthday, listed as “David Arias” due to unfamiliarity with Spanish naming customs. He made his professional debut in 1994 for the Mariners’ Arizona League, batting .246 with two home runs and 20 RBI. By 1995, he improved to .332 with four home runs and 37 RBI.
In 1996, he was promoted to the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, batting .322 with 18 home runs and 93 RBI, earning praise from fans and Alex Rodriguez. Baseball America named him the most exciting player in the Midwest League. On September 13, 1996, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins, where he switched to the name “David Ortiz.” He quickly rose through the Twins system, hitting .317 with 31 home runs and 124 RBI, earning a September call-up to the MLB.
Personal life
Each time David Ortiz hit a home run, he pointed both index fingers to the sky in tribute to his mother, Ángela Rosa Arias, who died in a car crash in January 2002. He also has a tattoo of her on his biceps. Ortiz and his wife, Tiffany, have three children. They separated in 2013, but reconciled.
Since 2017, they live in Miami and also maintain a home in the Dominican Republic. Ortiz’s daughter, Alex Veda, graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2023, while his son D’Angelo was drafted by the Red Sox in 2024. His youngest son, David Jr., was signed by the Texas Rangers in August 2024.
How many home runs did David Ortiz finish with?
David Ortiz concluded his illustrious career with a total of 541 home runs. This impressive statistic not only highlights his skill as a power hitter but also cements his legacy as one of the greatest sluggers in baseball history.
Conclusion
David Ortiz’s career is a remarkable story of sporting excellence and financial acumen. His journey from a young Dominican player to a celebrated MLB star with a multi-million dollar net worth is a testament to his talent, hard work, and strategic financial planning.
FAQs about David Ortiz
- What teams did David Ortiz play for in MLB? – Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox.
- What records did David Ortiz set? – He holds the Red Sox’s single-season home run record, among others.
- When did David Ortiz retire? – He retired in 2016.
- Has David Ortiz won any special baseball awards? – Yes, he was a World Series MVP and elected to the Hall of Fame in 2022.
- What is David Ortiz’s involvement in charity work? – He founded the David Ortiz Children’s Fund and is active in various charitable initiatives.
