Slugging for a cause
There have been no official announcements yet, but David Ortiz said he intends to participate in the Home Run Derby in Pittsburgh July 10.
``I have a reason that I want to do it," Ortiz said. ``I'm doing it for a charity back home."
Ortiz said he will be raising money for open-heart surgical units in his native Dominican Republic.
Ortiz was in last season's Home Run Derby in Detroit and with former Red Sox coach Dale Sveum pitching to him hit 17 home runs in the first round, including one that traveled an estimated 483 feet.
The 17 homers would have been a record for one round, except Bobby Abreu of the Phillies hit 24, nine more than the previous mark set by Miguel Tejada. Ortiz finished fourth last year.
There have been no official announcements yet, but David Ortiz said he intends to participate in the Home Run Derby in Pittsburgh July 10.
``I have a reason that I want to do it," Ortiz said. ``I'm doing it for a charity back home."
Ortiz said he will be raising money for open-heart surgical units in his native Dominican Republic.
Ortiz was in last season's Home Run Derby in Detroit and with former Red Sox coach Dale Sveum pitching to him hit 17 home runs in the first round, including one that traveled an estimated 483 feet.
The 17 homers would have been a record for one round, except Bobby Abreu of the Phillies hit 24, nine more than the previous mark set by Miguel Tejada. Ortiz finished fourth last year.