"I got here at 8 AM, he already finished gym" - Red Sox legend David Ortiz calls 37-year-old pitcher the "hardest-working player"
Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz has kept a keen eye on the club in the offseason and was left impressed by one player's work ethic.
Aroldis Chapman, also known as "The Cuban Missile," signed a one-year, $10.75 million contract with the Red Sox in December. Boston is Chapman's seventh different team in the majors.
The seven-time All-Star is 37 and past his prime, but remains committed to the sport.
In an interview with 310 To Left Podcast, Ortiz lauded Chapman's work ethic.
"I tell you what, I got here today at 8:00 a.m., and he had already finished at the gym. I mean, this guy—whoever doesn’t know Chapman—I got to tell you, he's the hardest-working player you could ever see," Ortiz said (16:50 onwards). "To me, his velocity isn’t surprising because I know him, but if you see the way he works—he’s an animal, this guy is a beast."
Ortiz also said that Chapman can be a role model for younger guys rising through the ranks.
"I'm so glad we have him here so the younger guys can watch him closely," Ortiz added. "Because, as you know, that’s how it works in a team—when you see the top guys busting their tails, you better follow up, you know what I'm saying? And he's a really good role model, a great example, and great for our organization."
David Ortiz shares excitement for Red Sox in 2025
The Red Sox haven't made the postseason in the last three years and the front office decided it was time to flick the switch.
They were among the most active teams in free agency and have assembled quite a strong roster on the pitching and hitting fronts.
Red Sox legend David Ortiz expressed his excitement heading into the 2025 season.
"I love it, this is the team that I love, the team where I’ve built my career," Ortiz said. "I always want to see the Red Sox in good shape, and I think the front office has done an amazing job—uh, getting players this offseason and putting our pitching in a really good situation."
The Red Sox last won the World Series in 2018, and will have their task cut out in 2025 as they look to compete with the star-studded rosters of the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles.