Over the past few season we’ve watched David Ortiz rewrite the Red Sox record book. Now with just one season left before retirement, let’s have a look at what records may fall in the 2016 regular season.
With just 127 more plate appearances, Ortiz will pass Bobby Doerr (4,080) for the fifth most by a Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Hits: Ortiz has averaged just over 146 hits per season since the start of the 2013 season. He currently has 1,910 hits in a Red Sox uniform, good for 7th-most in franchise history. He needs 133 to overtake Doerr at #6 on the club list, 189 to pass Wade Boggs at #5.
Doubles: With 476 career Red Sox doubles, Ortiz has the 3rd-most in club history after Carl Yastrzemski (646) and Ted Williams (525). Big Papi has averaged 34 doubles over the past three seasons. Ortiz already has 58 doubles coming with 2 outs and runners in scoring position, the most of any Boston player since at least 1914.
No Designated Hitter in MLB history has more doubles than Big Papi (584).
Home Runs: At 445, Big Papi has the 3rd-most Red Six home runs ever. Ortiz needs seven more to tie Carl Yastrzemski (452) at #2 on the list. Williams’ franchise record of 521 HRs appears safe. David needs five home runs with runners in scoring position to tie Yastrzemski for the club record since at least 1914. Ortiz already owns the most club grand slams (10) for that same period of time. David is seven HRs from tying Jim Rice (208) for 3rd-most at Fenway.
Among all-time designated hitters, Ortiz needs 19 home runs to surpass Frank Thomas for the most in MLB history.
Runs Batted In: Ortiz needs 49 more RBI to pass Rice at #3 on the Red Sox’ all-time RBI list. Assuming he stays healthy, that should be an easy one as Ortiz has averaged 105 per season over the past three. The top records of Yastrzemski (1,844) and Williams (1,839) are secure.
Ortiz needs 64 RBI to pass Thomas (1,704) for the most by any MLB designated hitter.
Walks: Ortiz is one of just five Red Sox players with 1,000+ walks in his Red Sox career. Williams (2,021), Yastrzemski (1,845), Dwight Evans (1,337), Ortiz (1,053) and Boggs (1,004). Big Papi has averaged 76 walks per season since the start of 2013. He’ll be the 4th-most walked Red Sox batter ever.
When it comes to intentional walks, however, David could well be the franchise leader of all time. His 181 IBB is second only to Yastrzemski’s 190. Since the start of 2013, Papi has averaged just over 21 free passes per season.
Ortiz 1,239 walks as a designated hitter trails only Thomas (1,667) and Edgar Martinez (1,283) for the most by a DH in MLB history.
With 69 strikeouts Ortiz will surpass Yastrzemski (1,393) for 3rd-most in Red Sox history. Only Evans (1,643) and Rice (1,423) have had more in franchise history. David has averaged nearly 93 strikeouts per season over the past three years. His 1,664 strikeouts as a designated hitter are the most of any MLB DH in history.