MLB PLAYER NEWS

Boston’s Ortiz not concerned with batting position

The Sports Xchange

May 27, 2015 at 3:49 am.

David Ortiz doesn't mind where he hits. (Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)

MINNEAPOLIS — Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is no stranger to the ups and downs of a major league season.

The 2015 season has been mostly a down one for the future Hall of Famer, who hasn’t seen his batting average reach even .250 since the early part of May. He had one hot stretch of games from April 27 until May 5, where he hit .366. But even then, he didn’t homer during that stretch and only knocked in four runs.

Ortiz has bottomed out recently, entering play Tuesday with just four hits in his last 27 at-bats, and none in his last 15. He doubled in the second inning and scored Boston’s only run in a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday at Target Field, but even that hit came as a result of some questionable defense in left field.

With his season-long slump now becoming a story, Red Sox manager John Farrell moved Ortiz down in the order against the Twins, penciling him into the No. 5 spot in the batting order for the first time since May 6, 2012.

“For all the people that always ask ‘How long can you do this?’ and I make it look easy, it’s not that easy,” Ortiz said. “Baseball players, we have to go through these struggles to figure it out. It shows you guys that I am not Superman.”

Ortiz hasn’t spent extended time in the five hole since 2011, and if he starts hitting again soon, his current time there isn’t expected to last long.

Despite his struggles, Ortiz said he doesn’t see the move to the fifth spot as a demotion, saying that he doesn’t really care where he hits. He’s also maintained a positive attitude and a veteran’s perspective on his slow start.

“If (Mets pitcher) Bartolo Colon can get a hit, then so can I,” Ortiz said with a laugh.

“I’ll be fine, hopefully. Not much you can do about it, you just keep playing the game, swinging and let things happen.”

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