Recovering David Ortiz Throws Out First Pitch At Yankees-Red Sox

David Ortiz last night made his "first public appearance" since being shot in June, throwing out the first pitch prior to Yankees-Red Sox at Fenway Park. Former Red Sox C Jason Varitek caught the throw. Ortiz told the crowd, "First of all, I want to thank God, for giving me a second opportunity of my life and being able to be here with all of you. I want to thank the Red Sox -- my real family -- they always have been there for me, supporting me no matter where I’m at" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/10).

Ortiz looked "slimmer than before the shooting and multiple subsequent operations." He received a "standing ovation and then delivered a 65-second speech that drew several rounds of applause from the crowd" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/10). The appearance of Ortiz was "clearly a way to turn the page on a miserable 2019 season" less than a day after the team fired President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/10).