One might get the wrong idea by looking at David Ortiz’s career numbers against the Minnesota Twins.
Ortiz, who spent parts of six seasons with the Twins to open his major league career, has destroyed his former team since joining the Boston Red Sox before the 2003 season. But although Ortiz admits he has enjoyed “whopping the Twins’ ass” since his 2002 release from the club, the nine-time All-Star also insists he’s nothing but grateful for the time he spent in Minnesota.
“I thank those guys, to be honest with you,” Ortiz told reporters Wednesday in Minnesota. “I learned a lot of good things from those guys, even going through tough situations playing here. Those guys taught me not to take anything for granted and to work hard every day to get better. That’s the one thing I can tell you about the Twins organization. They teach you how to play the game the right way.”
Ortiz, who played 455 games in a Twins uniform, entered Thursday’s series finale in Minnesota with a .350 average (75-for-214), 19 home runs, 18 doubles, 49 RBIs and 34 walks against his former team since joining the Red Sox. His .440 on-base percentage against the Twins represents the highest mark against Minnesota of any player with at least 75 plate appearances.
“I don’t know, man,” Ortiz said. “I think the game is just all about attitude and how you get prepared and how you look at it. I try to do this every day. They just don’t let me.”
Ortiz certainly loves picking on the Twins. It’s amazing to think he actually doesn’t possess a personal vendetta.
