News
Big Papi is the biggest DH
Ortiz slugs 270th HR as designated hitter, passes Thomas
By John Barone / MLB.com
09/16/09 12:17 AM ET
BOSTON -- David Ortiz knows a thing or two about breaking home run records.Back in 2006, the slugger set the Red Sox's single-season franchise mark with 54 long balls and, after clocking his 24th tater of the year in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Angels at Fenway Park, he now finds himself on top of another historic home run list.
Big Papi's two-out, eighth-inning blast off Los Angeles reliever Jose Arredondo was his 270th dinger as a designated hitter, passing Frank Thomas for the most all-time at that position.
Designated slugger | |
| David Ortiz blasted his 24th homer of the season in the eighth inning Tuesday. It was his 270th as a designated hitter, passing Frank Thomas for the most all-time. | |
Player | Home runs |
| David Ortiz | 270 |
| Frank Thomas | 269 |
| Edgar Martinez | 243 |
| Harold Baines | 236 |
| Don Baylor | 219 |
"That's something that I wasn't really thinking about," Ortiz said. "But records are there for a reason, and people need to keep that in mind. Being up there with a guy like Frank Thomas, it's great."
What's more, the Red Sox improved to 21-2 this season when Ortiz goes deep, something he's done 23 times since June 6. All of this after a well-documented slow start to 2009 that left him homerless until May 20.
"Obviously he's a big presence in our lineup," third baseman Mike Lowell said. "We hope he gets going."
Ortiz has been going at a pretty torrid pace over the past week, batting .529 (9-for-17) over the course of a six-game hitting streak that's raised his once unsightly average to .233.
"I've been feeling good," Ortiz said. "Things are going good. I think everything is clicking at the right time."
John Barone is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
