David Ortiz Gets Ball Stuck In Pesky Pole During BP
BOSTON (CBS) -- David Ortiz is putting together one heck of a farewell tour, but it's going to be hard to top what he did Thursday night.
No, we're not talking about his three hits in Boston's 13-2 win over the Twins, including his 24th homer of the season. We're talking about a home run that didn't even count.
During batting practice ahead of Thursday's game, Ortiz hit a ball so hard it got wedged in Pesky Pole in right field:
.@davidortiz left something behind at #SoxBP. ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/wRHwhISp1t
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 21, 2016
Ortiz spoke about the BP blast with Ian Browne after the game.
"That was powerful right there, I wasn't expecting that but it happens," said Ortiz. "I've been watching balls hit that pole for years and never did any of them got stuck in there. It doesn't get any more powerful."
It's just a shame the ball couldn't remain a permanent part of the Pesky Pole, a lasting tribute to a slugger who has done so much for the organization. It could have been Ortiz's equivalent to Ted Williams' red chair in right field.
Watching Ortiz take batting practice is a spectacle in itself, and several members of the team were in awe when they saw the ball get lodged in the famous Fenway feature.
"He puts on a display every day. And you know, the thing about his BP, we all watch it," said manager John Farrell. "It starts with moving the ball around the field and finishes with driving the ball out of the ballpark. It's a professional approach, and it's really fun to watch. And we're watching, I would think, history, right in front of us nightly."
As Tony Massarotti pointed out Friday morning, Ortiz has as few as 28 games remaining at Fenway Park in his career. If you plan on attending any of those, make sure you get to the ballpark early. You never know what you're going to see from Big Papi.