David Ortiz is one of the busiest retirees around. Since deciding to wrap up his playing career in 2016, the Red Sox icon and first-ballot Hall of Famer has become an analyst for FOX Sports, published a memoir, ventured into podcasting, and launched an eyewear collection, a line of cannabis, and earlier this spring, his own brand of rum.
Ortiz’s commitment to philanthropic work, the Red Sox, and the city and people of Boston remains as strong as ever, though. He spoke about all three Monday morning as he hosted his charity golf tournament, the David Ortiz Soiree of Hearts, at Newton’s Brae Burn Country Club.
“People know that I have a crazy schedule because I work a lot, but when it comes down to this, it don’t matter to me, I just like showing up and supporting and (giving) back,” the legendary slugger said on Monday morning at his charity golf tournament, the David Ortiz Soiree of Hearts. “When you see those families, we see kids with low incomes, it’s something that is my motivation, to be honest.”
His foundation, the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, has helped thousands of children in the United States and his native Dominican Republic receive life-saving cardiac care since 2007.
“It’s all about the kids,” Ortiz said. “I mean, who doesn’t love children? I mean, I got my own, and I suffer just to see kids suffering, you know what I’m saying? So that’s why I do whatever it takes to continue to have this event.”
As for the 2025 Red Sox, Ortiz has been keeping an eagle-eye on their 29-32 start to the season. Asked what his beloved Sox need to do to turn things around after going 11-17 in May, he answered, “Win” before the question was even finished, and burst into his famous, booming laugh.
Highlighting Triston Casas’ season-ending injury and Alex Bregman’s quad strain, which is expected to sideline him for at least a month, Ortiz said the Red Sox will need to “make some moves” before the July 31 trade deadline (6 p.m. ET) in order to stay competitive.
“Injuries are like teams’ No. 1 enemy,” Ortiz explained, highlighting Triston Casas’ season-ending surgery and Alex Bregman going on the injured list for at least a month. “It is something that you can’t really control. … You just gotta find a way to replace them.”
Something the Red Sox are all but guaranteed not to find is another Rafael Devers, who, as Ortiz pointed out, entered Monday leading the majors in runs batted in (and leading the American League in walks).
“He’s having a helluva season,” Ortiz raved. “I’m enjoying watching him just smoking the pitchers! … Nothing surprises me coming from Devers as the hitter. He’s a pure hitter.”
Ortiz, who spent the vast majority of his career as the greatest designated hitter in Red Sox history, had a lot to say about Devers’ forced transition to the role after eight years as the club’s third baseman. He thought the mental adjustment might be difficult. (Devers hasn’t reached out for advice, Ortiz said.)
“I wasn’t concerned about Raffy’s hitting, I was more concerned about the role of the DH,” explained Ortiz, who said he told the Red Sox to sign Devers after his second year. “People think DH’ing is the easiest thing to do. If you’re not hitting, you ain’t doing anything, you know what I’m saying? That’s how you feel, and as a baseball player your mindset forces you to try to collaborate on a daily basis, trying to do something different to help win a ballgame.”
Having also played 278 career regular-season games at first base – as well as seven across his World Series championship runs – Ortiz knows changing roles is no walk in the park, never mind learning an entirely new position.
After Casas’ injury, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, a longtime Sox teammate of Ortiz’s, went to Devers and broached the topic of trying first base. Addressing the media on May 8, Devers came out adamantly against the idea; he made pointed remarks about Breslow without naming him outright and said the Red Sox hadn’t stayed true to their word.
The situation prompted Breslow, team president/CEO Sam Kennedy, and principal owner John Henry to make an unexpected trip to join the team in Kansas City for a sit-down with the highest-paid player in franchise history. In 22 games since (entering Monday), Devers hit .341 with a 1.082 OPS and a slew of clutch hits.
Ortiz delved into both sides on Monday. He said it wasn’t how he would’ve responded if the Red Sox had asked the same of him, but he also understood how Devers felt. And, he added, is asking Devers to learn a new position during the season really what’s best for everyone involved?
“He had a rough start the first couple of weeks, but then he’s killing it right now. You don’t want to mess that up,” Ortiz said. “We cannot just crush the guy every time we feel like, we need to know that he’s an important piece for this organization. He’s doing what he was asked.”
“If I was (Devers), I would have put myself available for anything, but that was me,” he continued. “He was a third baseman that was asked to be a DH. Now, all of a sudden, you want him to play first base, I guess. You have to give him some time for him to learn, if he wants to, because he’s doing great as DH, you know, like I don’t want to mess that up… I think he should just think about what would be better for the organization, him at first or him as the DH, and go from there. But we have to give him some time.”
Ortiz also reminded that Devers can’t slug the Red Sox to a championship all by himself.
“He’s doing excellent, you know, and hopefully he continues, but it’s not just him,” he said. “Everybody has to come in and bring something to the table, you know, like everybody wants to focus on Devers. Devers is doing what he’s supposed to, you know, the rest of the team needs to collaborate. We need more Devers on the team, basically!”