Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz was shot in the lower back while he was a club in his native Dominican Republic on Sunday night.
Ortiz is in “stable” condition following surgery but is now missing his gall bladder and parts of his colon after they had to be removed. The 43-year-old also reportedly suffered liver damage.
“He is out of surgery and stable; he is resting,” Leo Ortiz, David’s father, said. “Big Papi will be around for a long time.”
Dionisio Soldevila, a reporter from the Dominican, told ESPN the doctor who treated the Red Sox slugger said the bullet went through his body. According to Soldevila, Ortiz told doctors: “Please don’t let me die. I’m a good man.”
It seems Ortiz may be lucky to have only suffered those injuries as surveillance video of the shooting shows his assailant shot him from point-blank range.
Absolutely incredible footage from the David Ortiz shooting!! Glad to hear he's stable after surgery pic.twitter.com/2CQbZG8yry
— Stuck On Sports (@Stuck_On_Sports) June 10, 2019
The man who shot Ortiz is in custody and, according to NSFW videos which began circulating following the shooting, was severely beaten by bystanders for what he allegedly did. Authorities are waiting for him to be treated until they question him further.
In a statement, the Red Sox offered their full support to Big Papi.
#RedSox Statement Regarding David Ortiz: pic.twitter.com/zl2yp8NREs
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) June 10, 2019
Ortiz is expected to make a full recovery.
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