The Old David Ortiz Is Back To Lead The Red Sox

The Return Of Big Papi
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 18: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates a two run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the seventh inning of the game on May 18, 2013 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 18: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates a two run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the seventh inning of the game on May 18, 2013 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

At the end of the 2009 season, David Ortiz faced a crossroads. Barely removed from four consecutive seasons finishing in the top four in voting for the American League MVP (though never winning it), he'd just finished his worst season in the majors since joining the Boston Red Sox, hitting .238/.332/.462 -- a year after his second-worst season as the Red Sox designated hitter, .264/.369/.507 in an injury shortened campaign -- and the fall-off in his ability to hit for average combined with the looming end of his contract with the Red Sox after the 2010 season clouded his future in Boston considerably.

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