Most people would agree that David Ortiz is a future Hall of Famer.
The Boston Red Sox’s designated hitter is in his 20th and final big league season and is putting up the best numbers of his career. He’s leading the league in doubles, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS. No player has ever led baseball in those categories during their final season.
Given his terrific final year, his career numbers are getting better by the day: .286 average, 2,400 hits, 618 doubles, 525 home runs, 1,713 RBIs and a .931 OPS. Oh yeah, and he’s got three World Series rings, 10 All-Star Games, seven Silver Sluggers and five top-five MVP finishes.
Hall of Fame worthy, right? Not according to Pete Rose.
MLB’s all-time hits leader, now a FOX analyst but still banned for life from baseball for gambling on the game, was asked almost a rhetorical question about Ortiz’s eligibility on FOX’s pregame show before the 87th All-Star Game on Tuesday. His answer was … interesting.
“Borderline,” Rose said when asked if Ortiz was a HOFer. “Because of how many hits he has. But if he plays a couple more years, he’s a cinch.”
Kind of a backhanded compliment, we suppose. Coming from the MLB hits king, we get it, but kindly disagree.
Of course, it doesn’t matter what we think. The numbers pretty much speak for themselves, and we’d be willing to bet Cooperstown will be calling when all is said and done.
Thumbnail photo via Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports Images
