Most rehab visits are of your typical garden variety. Player X comes down with Injury Y to iron out the kinks. He gets in his customary three at-bats or throws a few innings before handling the always revealing “How did things go out there?” Q&A session.
David Ortiz wasn’t your typical rehabber. He went above and beyond in the three days he spent in Pawtucket, for there wasn’t a trace of phoniness to be found.
In a day and age where athletes seemingly run damage control on their reputations 24/7, Ortiz showed in his PawSox stint that he is as genuine and affable as they come.
There is a reason why his nickname is Big Papi, for he showed he could accommodate all.
Before why we state our case why Ortiz should never be uttered in the same breath as some sports figures who believe the world owes them a living (i.e. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens), let’s understand his prime purpose in coming to McCoy Stadium. Having not faced live pitching since May 31, Ortiz set out to put his wrist through a battery of tests.
On the field, Ortiz succeeded in every sense. The three-day total for “Papipalooza” was 33,275, and all present can brag they saw the big fella hit a home run. Ortiz proclaimed on his first day that he was going to swing for the fences, for McCoy’s cozy dimensions proved most inviting.
Being a baseball player who woos crowds with tape-measure home runs only begins to scratch the surface of Ortiz. He doesn’t need to be reminded of his status as an iconic Red Sox figurehead. He fully grasps what the total package is.

Everyone wanted a piece of Big Papi, from the media who came out in droves to the young fans who dangled milk cartons in front of the PawSox dugout. The demand on his time was great, yet he was able to squeeze in all walks of stadium life into his busy schedule.
They say an athlete isn’t supposed to impact lives? Try telling that to groups of 20-25 kids that were lucky enough to have an once-in-a-lifetime private audience with Ortiz each night. According to one PawSox official, Ortiz asked the security staff to comb the stands and seek out a group of youngsters. 
Turns out one of the groups was a birthday party. One moment you’re enjoying hot dogs and cake. The next you’re being escorted to the PawSox clubhouse, where Ortiz is waiting with a big smile. The interaction might have been of the short-and-sweet variety, but the impact Ortiz made will no question be replayed over and over in their minds.
Ortiz seemed to relish bringing a touch of Fenway Park down I-95. When he was lifted for a pinch-runner Thursday, he showed his appreciation by tipping his helmet to the crowd, who seconds earlier were in unison cheering “Big Papi.”
“It’s exactly what happens at Fenway,” said Ortiz.
That may be true, but there’s an even greater force Ortiz must contend with on a daily basis. The media that covers the Red Sox on a daily basis knows Ortiz is one of the go-to guys in the clubhouse. He’s practically money for a solid soundbite or quote, which undoubtedly heightens his appeal to the fourth estate.
This time, Ortiz’s stage wasn’t the tight-and-narrow home clubhouse at Fenway. The setting was McCoy, but even standing on unfamiliar turf didn’t seem to matter.
The cameras didn’t even allow Ortiz to reach the fungo circle following his batting practice round Thursday before forming a barricade around him. It would have been easy for Ortiz to break though the pack and declare the interview take place in the dugout, where he could sit and get out of the sun.
Ortiz chose not to fight City Hall. His face glimmering with sweat, he patiently stood there for 10 minutes. You can only phrase in so many ways “How’s the wrist feeling?” but Ortiz showed he wasn’t about to shirk one of his off-field duties.
“I know he’s a star, but sometimes you have to put yourself in other people’s shoes” said PawSox manager Ron Johnson, who has spent time with Ortiz at spring training and in Boston. “There were requests to talk to him [Thursday] and he was like ‘Yeah, that’s no problem.’
“I didn’t even realize the magnitude until the swarm of people got around him,” Johnson continued. “It was amazing and I’m thinking this is normal for this guy. He doesn’t big-time anybody.”
The media crush thinned out with each passing day, meaning the odds to grab some 1-on-1 face time with Ortiz improved greatly. Rumford resident Steve McDonald, who handles the interviews for Cox Sports’ production of PawSox baseball, was able to reel in the big one because Ortiz was a man of his honor.
It was Saturday and the media had vacated Johnson’s office. At this point, Ortiz was by his temporary locker, talking with a representative from a bat company. Realizing he promised McDonald the previous day he would sit down for a five-minute segment, Ortiz walked over and informed he was ready to fulfill yet another request.
David Ortiz might have built his reputation based on late-game heroics, but after observing him up close these last few days, he is simply brings much more to the ballpark. He was a legend before he walked into McCoy Stadium and was able to deliver a legendary performance in every sense.
Memo to the Portland Sea Dogs: You’re up next.