Biography of David Ortiz

Early in his career, some questioned the veracity of this date. However, documents have since proved David’s age to be genuine.

The oldest of four children, David was always the calming influence in his family. Easygoing and easy to poke fun at, the youngster had a wonderful sense of humor. He made friends everywhere he went.

David was unwavering in his devotion to his parents, Enrique and Angela Rosa. His father—who went by the nickname “Leo”—loved baseball and played for years in Dominican pro and semipro leagues. David learned to love the game as much as his dad did. He attended games whenever he could and rooted for hometown stars like the Martinez brothers, Ramon and Pedro. When David was eight, Ramon made healdines with his pitching in the Los Angeles Olympics. Years later, Pedro would become one of David’s closest friends in the big leagues.

As a player, David’s father fell into the good-field, no-stick category. David developed differently. Tall and powerful, he was a strong athlete and a natural slugger. David started swinging from the heels as a youngster and continued to embrace this philosophy as he got older. When David entered Estudia Espallat High School, he became a star in a second sport: basketball. Well over six feet tall as a teen, he had the size, quickness and coordination to play any position on the floor.

Unlike most Dominican kids, David began filling out early. It did not take much imagination for scouts to project him as a future power hitter, but what intrigued them was how tough an out he could be. If David did not get a pitch he could drive, he would use his quick, powerful hands to spray lasers all over the field. And he was confident enough in this ability to work deep into counts. David’s relaxed nature also served him well. Always happy to be at the ballpark, he maintained an even keel whether he was 4-for-4 or 0-for-4.

The Mariners scouted David closely and signed him as a non-drafted free agent in 1992, 10 days after his 17th birthday. He spent a season with Seattle's Dominican Summer League club, batting .264 with 35 extra-base hits in 61 games. In 1994, David joined Peoria, Seattle’s affiliate in the rookie-level Arizona League. Among his teammates were future major leaguers Wilson Delgado and Shawn Estes. The team was managed by Marty Martinez, a Cuban utilityman who played for six clubs in the 1960s and 70s.

In his first taste of pro ball, David struggled at the plate. In 53 games, he batted just .246 with two homers and struck out 46 times. David impressed in the field, however, flashing plenty of leather and showing surprising agility around the bag for a man his size. He led the league in total chances (393) and put-outs (372). It was at this point that baseball people began to eye David with suspicion. He looked too polished—and too well fed—for a Dominican teenager.

Back in Peoria for a second go-round in 1995, David shared the clubhouse with a new wave of Mariner prospects, including Ramon Vazquez and Joe Mays. At 19, David enjoyed the kind of year the Seattle brass had been expecting, putting together a 19-game hitting streak from June to July and finishing with a .332 batting average. He also topped the Arizona League with 18 doubles and 37 RBIs. David got it done in the field again, too. His .989 fielding percentage and 27 assists were best in the league. Seattle’s player development department recognized David by naming him his club’s MVP. He was also voted to the league’s All-Star team.