The 500-home run club has gained a new member.
Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz took Tampa Bay Rays starter Matt Moore deep in the fifth inning of Saturday’s game for the 500th homer of his illustrious career. He hit his 499th career home run in the first inning.
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Ortiz is the 27th major league hitter to reach the milestone and the first since Gary Sheffield did so on April 17, 2009 as a member of the New York Mets.
Entering Saturday, only three players had hit their 500th home run while playing for the Red Sox: Ted Williams (521 career homers), Jimmie Foxx (534) and Manny Ramirez (555). Ramirez was the most recent Boston hitter to achieve the feat, with his 500th coming on May 31, 2008.
Ortiz now has 34 homers this season, which leads the Red Sox and ranks seventh in the American League.
Thumbnail photo via Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports Images
