Ortiz Named DH Of The Year
BOSTON (CBS) – David Ortiz has been named the 2011 recipient of the 2011 Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.
Ortiz received 73 first-place votes out of 84 ballots, giving him the award for the sixth time in his 15-year career. Detroit's Victor Martinez finished second with Kansas City's Billy Butler third.
Ortiz hit .309 with 29 home runs and 96 RBI for the Red Sox in 2011. Among qualifying DH's, Ortiz finished first in home runs (28), RBI (94), runs scored (82) and slugging percentage (.561). He finished tied for first in doubles, was second in on-base percentage (.403) and was third in base hits (161) and batting average (.314).
Ortiz is expected to accept salary arbitration from the Red Sox before Wednesday's deadline. His new manager, Bobby Valentine, was asked about getting Ortiz back for another year at the Winter Meetings in Dallas, and is happy to hear Papi will be returning.
"How could I not be excited to have the DH of the year at DH?" Valentine asked.
