David Ortiz is retiring after the 2016 season, and isn’t wasting his final spring training by staying out of the headlines.
Aside from steroid allegations stemming from a failed drug test in 2003, Ortiz has a spotless record as a professional athlete. He told USA Today he was never trying to be a role model, but what he said about those going through alleged domestic violence cases, including Jose Reyes, Yasiel Puig and Aroldis Chapman, was more shocking.
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“These are good guys. I feel so bad for them,’’ Ortiz said. “I know Jose well. Jose is not a trouble maker. He’s a good guy.’’
Reyes is due in court on April 4 on domestic violence charges for allegedly grabbing his wife by the throat and throwing her against a glass door during a dispute while the couple was in Hawaii.
“That’s not the Jose I know,’’ Ortiz said. “He’s a good kid. But people are going crazy and want to judge him. We’re not perfect. We all make mistakes. That’s no excuse, but people are judging him without knowing everything.
“It was something that got out of control, but only he and his wife know exactly what happened. People already are making a judgment on him. I just don’t think that’s fair. Give him a chance."
Commissioner Rob Manfred is expected to make disciplinary rulings on at least two of the three aforementioned cases this week. Major League Baseball put Reyes on administrative leave Tuesday pending resolution of his case.