The 2013 season began inauspiciously for David Ortiz. For the first time in his Red Sox career, the longtime designated hitter began the year on the Injured List.
Then 37 years old, Ortiz — Boston’s two-time World Series champion, already an icon for his beloved personality and clutch hitting — was still a force at the plate. He’d once again put up impressive numbers in 2012, batting .318 with a whopping 1.026 OPS, yet was limited to 90 games due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Boston struggled without him, falling completely out of the playoff race and ending up last in the American League East.