David Ortiz Would Give All Of Boston A (Expletive) Hug If He Could

David Ortiz has one more profanity-laced (of course) message for the city of Boston.

The former Boston Red Sox designated hitter reflected on his legendary career (he still insists he’s retiring) in a piece for The Players’ Tribune. Ortiz looked back to the beginning of his career in Boston, crediting both Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez for their help in not only getting him to Boston but helping him thrive in The Hub.

“That’s what I want people to understand,” Ortiz wrote. “When I look back on my career, that’s what I will miss the most. The everyday s—. Just sitting in the clubhouse and talking about baseball with baseball geniuses. Everybody knows what happened when we came back to beat the Yankees in 2004. But not everybody knows everything that went into those seven games.

“You know how many hours Manny, Pedro and I spent hunting those Yankees pitchers before that series even started? Just sitting around, watching (Mike Mussina) and (Andy) Pettitte and (Mariano) Rivera, talking about how to attack them?

“From the moment I got to Boston, I was around baseball geniuses, straight up.”

Ortiz also revealed that shortly after the 2016 season ended and he was left with facing the prospect of spending the rest his life as something other than a baseball player, there was some trepidation. He even went to Fenway Park to work out — after his final season ended.

But for those hoping Ortiz has a comeback in him, the DH swears he’s done.

“I wish I could (return),” he wrote. “My mind wants to. But my body just can’t do it anymore. For the past four years, it’s been a struggle just to get physically ready to perform. I used to roll up to the ballpark at 2:30 and be ready to go at 7. But for the past few years, I’ve been a noon guy. That’s how long it takes me to get the engine going with all the stretching and massages and treatment.

“Getting old sucks.”

As for Boston, Ortiz had one final message for the city and fan base that embraced him as one of their biggest heroes for the entirety of his career.

“Boston, thank you. When I came to this city, I didn’t know if I had a future. Now I have a home. Thank you for making me one of your own.

“I’d give you all a big f—— hug if I could.”