The Twins honored one who got away on Friday night, bidding a final farewell to Boston’s David Ortiz, who is making his final trip to Minnesota.
Ortiz began his major league career with the Twins, playing for them from 1997-2002. He was waived after the ’02 season and wound up in Boston. The rest is history.
So in his final trip to Target Field some of Ortiz’s former teammates were on hand to honor him and have one last laugh with him.
…which involved peanut butter! pic.twitter.com/WrdA8Fz3uM
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 11, 2016
It has been a strained relationship since Ortiz left. The Associated Press notes that he’s been critical of the organization since leaving, including some comments he made earlier this week.
It’s a touchy issue on the organization’s side as well, as Twins General Manager Terry Ryan didn’t want to comment on a story from ESPN this week.
But by Friday night Ortiz was singing a different tune. He told reporters, including the Star Tribune.
“I love coming here. I was talking to somebody, one of my boys that works for the USA Today, and I was telling him about how it feels to play at the Metrodome. That’s not the case here at Target [Field], this is a beautiful park, this is a park that you want to come out and play. I know the fans love being outside. Minnesota is a wonderful place, I tell some friends, every time I talk about Minnesota, I talk about how clean Minnesota is. I always love to come back.”
Friday night the awkwardness was gone.
His former teammates had an opportunity to remind him of one of their favorite practical jokes that they played on him, when they handed him a jar of peanut butter before the game.
If you want to know more about the prank check out the Tweet.
Here’s why the Twins gave @davidortiz some peanut butter, as told by @toriihunter48: https://t.co/bN9ZvQe2m2
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) June 11, 2016
Sporting Big Papi shoes, @ckone47 talks former #MNTwins' teammate @davidortiz https://t.co/R97svcyAdu
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) June 10, 2016
