David

Ortiz

Ortiz, in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility, appeared on 77.9 percent of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballots, just north of the 75-percent threshold. He’ll be officially inducted this summer in Cooperstown, New York. No other player on the current BBWAA ballot got elected, though Buck O’Neil, Gil Hodges, Minnie Minoso, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, and Bud Fowler are all going in as Veterans Committee selections. Tim Kurkjian will be presented as the 2022 winner of the BBWAA Career Excellence Award “for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.” Also of note: Barry Bonds (66 percent), Roger Clemens (65.2 percent), Curt Schilling (58.6 percent), and Sammy Sosa (18.5 percent) are now off the writers’ ballot after exhausting their 10 years of voting eligibility. Scott Rolen (63.2 percent) seemingly has a good shot at induction in 2023 or 2024.

The other first-time eligible players include Carl Crawford, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Tim Lincecum, Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbon, Jake Peavy, A.J. Pierzynski, and Mark Teixeira. Ortiz is most likely among this group to actually get in on the first ballot. With the holdovers, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Curt Schilling are all eligible for the 10th and final time while Scott Rolen and Billy Wagner will hope to pick up some momentum. Hall of Fame ballots from BBWAA writers are due Dec. 31 with an announcement to follow on Jan. 25.

Ortiz is 0-for-17 with 12 strikeouts in his career against Mike Mussina.

All three players are expected to play today and tomorrow. With Boston three games back in the AL east, but safely in the AL wild card position, expect more regulars to get some time off this week.

Of Ortiz’s 162 hits this season, over half are for extra bases. Last seasons’s performance was no fluke. Ortiz is cleary an elite AL hitter.

Ortiz has missed two games with the injury and is expected to DH today.

This is the best the Red Sox can do for news today? “He played through it on the Japan trip,” GM Theo Epstein said. “Rest will probably take care of it, but we want to make sure.”

It’s not an injury the Red Sox are especially concerned about.

Ortiz was able to take part in the series in Japan, but he wants to rest his shoulder now in order to enter spring training at 100 percent. He originally hurt the shoulder on Aug. 29 while getting nailed at home plate.

Ortiz’ deal is likely to get done before the Red Sox other big free agents - Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Jason Varitek, and Nomar Garciaparra.