Since his announcement last fall, David Ortiz has made one thing very clear to everyone who asks: He’s absolutely retiring at the end of this season.
Yet the Boston Red Sox’s legendary designated hitter has been peppered with “Are you sure?” questions all season long thanks to the incredible numbers he’s putting up.
Ortiz’s batting average (.332, fourth), home runs (22, T-ninths), RBIs (72, second), doubles (34, first) and OPS (1.107, first) all rank in the top 10 in Major League Baseball. He’s 40, but he might be having his best season yet.
And that’s why, despite Ortiz’s consistent answers, former American League MVP Mike Trout doesn’t believe Ortiz will hang up the spikes.
Trout: "I don't think Big Papi is going to retire. I keep telling him that. With those numbers, I wouldn't."
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 11, 2016
"He can't retire with [those] numbers. He's coming back for sure." – @MikeTrout on @davidortiz's last #ASG. #MLBTonight
— MLB Network PR (@MLBNetworkPR) July 11, 2016
The Los Angeles Angels outfielder took his praise a bit further.
.@MikeTrout on players that he’d pay to see: “I gotta say Miggy, Big Papi and Donaldson.” @IntentionalTalk #ASG
— MLB Network PR (@MLBNetworkPR) July 11, 2016
Only time will tell if Ortiz changes his mind, but for now we’re going to soak in every last second of his greatness while we still can.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
