Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

David Ortiz pranks Frank Thomas with vodka in water bottle gag

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated 10/11/19

David Ortiz is far enough along in his recovery from a gunshot wound that he has been able to serve in his normal analyst role for FOX during the MLB playoffs, and the former Boston Red Sox slugger appears to be back to his old fun-loving self.

Not long before the first pitch in Game 5 of the ALDS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros, Ortiz decided his colleague Frank Thomas needed a little something to take the edge off. So he slipped some Tito’s vodka into The Big Hurt’s water bottle.

"Get the party started early!" @davidortiz with a prank to loosen up @TheBigHurt_35 for the show today! pic.twitter.com/zzm58kSJMQ

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 10, 2019

Big Papi is known as much for those types of antics as he is for his incredible clutch hitting, so it’s great to see his personality hasn’t change just four months after he nearly lost his life.

Ortiz was shot in the back in an attempted assassination in his home country of the Dominican Republic on June 9. He has since undergone multiple surgeries, but he appears to be making a full recovery. FOX’s coverage — and Thomas’ water bottle — would not be the same without him.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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