
On June 9, 2019, former Boston Red Sox baseball player David Ortiz was shot in a bar in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ortiz underwent multiple surgeries and was hospitalized in Boston, Massachusetts. After a lengthy stay in the hospital, Ortiz was released and continued his rehabilitation at home under the care of full-time nurses and his personal doctor. The shooting incident, which was initially believed to be a burglary attempt, resulted in the arrest of at least 14 people, including the alleged gunman and mastermind. Ortiz's recovery was bolstered by global expressions of love and support.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of release from hospital | 27 July 2019 |
| Hospital | Massachusetts General Hospital |
| Location | Boston |
| Time in hospital | Nearly 7 weeks |
| Reason for hospitalisation | Shooting injuries |
| Place of shooting | A bar/nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Date of shooting | 9 June 2019 |
| Number of surgeries | 3 |
| Continued treatment | Full-time nurses and personal physician |
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What You'll Learn
- David Ortiz was shot in the back in a bar in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- He underwent three surgeries, including the removal of his gallbladder and part of his intestine
- Ortiz was released from hospital after a lengthy stay
- He returned home to continue rehabilitation and was under the care of full-time nurses and his personal doctor
- Ortiz, also known as Big Papi, is a retired baseball player and former Red Sox slugger

David Ortiz was shot in the back in a bar in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
On the evening of June 9, 2019, David Ortiz, a retired baseball player formerly of the Boston Red Sox, was shot and severely wounded at a bar in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Dial Bar and Lounge, located in the bustling nightlife district of eastern Santo Domingo, was a regular hangout for Ortiz, who was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and continues to spend part of the year there.
On the night of the shooting, Ortiz was at the bar with his friend, Sixto David Fernandez. Security camera footage shows that one of the suspects, Alberto Miguel Rodriguez Mota, arrived at the bar several hours before Fernandez and waited for his arrival. After Fernandez arrived and sat down, Rodriguez Mota took a picture of him and texted it to Jose Eduardo Ciprian, an inmate at 15 de Azua prison. Ciprian then forwarded the picture to another suspect, Gabriel Alexander Perez Vizcaíno.
At approximately 8:50 pm, Ortiz was shot in the back by a gunman who approached him from behind. The bullet went straight through his stomach, causing damage to his intestines, colon, and liver, and removing the need for his gallbladder. He underwent a six-hour operation performed by three local physicians at the Abel Gonzalez Clinic in Santo Domingo. Following the surgery, Ortiz was flown to Boston in an air ambulance provided by the Red Sox and was hospitalized at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he underwent two additional surgeries due to complications.
Ortiz was released from the hospital on Friday, July 27, nearly seven weeks after the shooting. He returned home, where he continued his rehabilitation with the support of full-time nurses and his personal physician.
Dominican authorities have stated that Ortiz was not the intended target of the shooting, and that Fernandez, who was dressed similarly to Ortiz that night, was the intended victim. At least 14 people have been charged in connection with the shooting, including Víctor Hugo Gómez, who was identified as the mastermind of the attack and a member or associate of a Mexican drug trafficking organization.
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He underwent three surgeries, including the removal of his gallbladder and part of his intestine
On June 9, 2019, David Ortiz, the former Boston Red Sox slugger, was shot in the back at a bar in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The bullet exited through his stomach and struck television host Jhoel López, who was at the bar with Ortiz.
Ortiz underwent surgery in Santo Domingo, where doctors removed his gallbladder and part of his intestine. His liver was also damaged. After spending six hours in surgery, Ortiz was in stable enough condition to be transported to Boston in an air ambulance provided by the Red Sox.
In Boston, Ortiz underwent a second operation at Massachusetts General Hospital and was soon talking and beginning to walk. On July 11, he had a third operation due to unspecified complications and was recovering well, according to his wife Tiffany’s statement.
Ortiz was released from the hospital on Friday, July 26, and returned home, where he continued his rehabilitation with the assistance of full-time nurses and his personal physician.
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Ortiz was released from hospital after a lengthy stay
David Ortiz, the former Red Sox slugger, was released from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a lengthy stay. He had been hospitalized since June 10, a day after he was shot at a bar in his native Dominican Republic. Ortiz underwent three surgeries related to the gunshot wound and ensuing complications. The most recent surgery was performed two weeks before his release from the hospital.
Ortiz was shot at a bar in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, on June 9. The bullet went straight through his stomach, causing damage to his intestines and liver. Doctors in the Dominican Republic removed his gallbladder and part of his intestine before he was flown to Boston in an air ambulance sent by the Red Sox.
Ortiz received a second operation upon arriving at Massachusetts General Hospital and was soon talking and beginning to walk, according to statements from his wife that were released by the Red Sox. He underwent a third operation on July 11 due to unspecified complications and was recovering well before being released from the hospital.
Ortiz was released from the hospital on Friday, July 27, and returned home, where he continued his rehabilitation with full-time nurses and his personal physician. A family source told ESPN, "He will continue to undergo all the treatment and rehabilitation necessary to recuperate from his recent procedures."
Dominican Republic authorities have said that Ortiz was not the intended target of the shooting. They believe that the attacker's target was Ortiz's friend, Sixto David Fernandez, who was seated at the same table as Ortiz and was dressed similarly to the baseball star. At least 14 people have been charged in connection with the shooting, including Víctor Hugo Gómez, who was allegedly the mastermind of the attack.
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He returned home to continue rehabilitation and was under the care of full-time nurses and his personal doctor
David Ortiz, the former Boston Red Sox baseball star, was shot in a bar in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic in June 2019. Ortiz underwent emergency surgery in Santo Domingo, where doctors removed his gallbladder and part of his intestines. He was then flown to Boston in an air ambulance provided by the Red Sox and admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital on June 10.
Ortiz underwent a second operation upon arriving in Boston and soon began to walk and talk again. On July 11, he had a third operation due to unspecified complications. After nearly seven weeks in the hospital, Ortiz was released on a Friday and returned home to continue his rehabilitation. He was under the care of full-time nurses and his personal doctor.
Ortiz's friend, Sixto David Fernandez, was reportedly the target of the shooting. At least 14 people were charged in connection with the attack, including Víctor Hugo Gómez, an alleged member of Mexico's Del Golfo drug cartel, who was believed to be the mastermind. Dominican authorities said Ortiz was not the intended target and that he happened to get caught in the gunfire as he shared a table with Fernandez.
Ortiz, also known as "Big Papi" by fans, spent 20 seasons in Major League Baseball, playing first base or as the designated hitter for the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox. He retired from the league in 2016.
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Ortiz, also known as Big Papi, is a retired baseball player and former Red Sox slugger
David Ortiz, also known as Big Papi, is a retired baseball player and former Red Sox slugger. He was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on November 18, 1975, and signed with the Seattle Mariners just days after turning 17. He made his professional debut in 1994 and spent six seasons with the Mariners' minor league before being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 1996, making his Major League debut with them in 1997.
Ortiz moved to the Boston Red Sox in 2002 and played for them for 14 seasons. He was a key player in the team's World Series wins in 2004, 2007, and 2013. In 2004, his home run in the 12th inning against the Yankees gave Boston the win. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2013 World Series. During his career, Ortiz was a 10-time All-Star and set several records, including the most home runs by a designated hitter with 485.
Following his retirement, Ortiz has pursued various endeavours, including launching his "Papi Cannabis" line of cannabis products and working as an MLB studio analyst for FOX Sports. He founded the David Ortiz Children's Fund in 2007 to support children in need of cardiac services. In 2019, Ortiz made headlines when he was shot in the Dominican Republic and hospitalized in Boston. He underwent multiple surgeries and was eventually released from the hospital to continue his recovery at home.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, David Ortiz was released from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and returned home on Friday, 27 July 2019.
Ortiz was hospitalized after being shot in a bar in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, on 9 June 2019. He underwent three surgeries and suffered damage to his intestines and liver.
Ortiz returned home to Miami, where he continued his rehabilitation with the support of full-time nurses and his personal physician.
















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