David Ortiz entered Saturday having not started a game at first base in nearly a year. But he clearly still remembers what to do between the lines.
The Boston Red Sox slugger got a rare start at first base against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, and the home team wasted no time in testing him. On just the fifth pitch of the game, Dodgers leadoff man Howie Kendrick ripped a line drive to the right side.
Enter Ortiz, who showed off the reflexes of a cat to snag the hot shot.
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Ortiz’s putout won’t receive any votes for “play of the year,” but it’s not too shabby for a 40-year-old designated hitter playing the position for the first time in over 11 months.
Big Papi also snared a Josh Reddick liner in the fifth inning and held his own defensively. He didn’t fare as well at the plate, ironically enough, going 0-for-3 before being taken out in the sixth inning.
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
