The one who got away: Ortiz returns to Minnesota for final time

Before he was Big Papi, or the most prolific DH ever, David Ortiz struggled to bust through as an everyday player with the Twins -- a team that ultimately decided to let him go.MINNEAPOLIS -- Tucked away in Bob Tewksbury's home, among the more random mementos from his 13-year major league career, is a black Louisville Slugger C243 with a curious autograph on the barrel.

"It says, 'To Bob, Big Cat. David Ortiz,'" said Tewksbury, a former right-handed pitcher whose final two seasons (1997-98) with the Minnesota Twins coincided with Ortiz's first two. "That's what he signed on my bat. I guess he was 'Big Cat' then."

Ortiz laughs at the mention of his little-known nickname. He doesn't remember…