Big Papi’s Words Still Power a Fenway Revival
BOSTON – Nearly three months have passed since the Red Sox shocked the baseball world by trading homegrown star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. The initial fury has cooled, but the echoes of that blockbuster deal still linger in the brick walls of Fenway Park. And at the heart of Boston’s renewed energy is the voice of David “Big Papi” Ortiz.
Ortiz, forever remembered for breaking the “Curse of the Bambino” with his heroics in 2004, offered Devers a message soon after the trade that now feels prophetic. “Brother, remember 2004—we won because we were family,” Ortiz recalled in an interview not long after the deal was finalized. “It’s never about the money. It’s about the bond.”
That reminder of unity and purpose has taken on fresh meaning as the Red Sox fight to stay alive in the playoff race. Boston entered the summer with a battered rotation and a fan base reeling from Devers’ departure. Yet a late-season surge, fueled by breakout pitching performances and steady clubhouse leadership, has carried the team back into contention. Players talk openly about resilience and togetherness, crediting Ortiz’s words as a spark that reignited their focus.
From his role as special advisor to the Fenway Sports Group, Ortiz remains a constant presence. At 49, he straddles the line between mentor and legend, someone who can speak to the weight of expectation while reminding everyone of the joy the game can still bring. Coaches say he drops by batting practice with the same easy swagger he had during his playing days, sharing stories that blend humor with quiet urgency.
Fans, too, feel his influence. On crisp September nights, chants of “Big Papi” ripple through the stands, not as nostalgia but as recognition of a spirit that refuses to fade. “When Ortiz talks, people listen,” said veteran catcher Connor Wong. “He’s been where we want to go. His words mean something.”
The Red Sox front office insists the Devers trade was necessary to build long-term pitching depth, and early returns from the prospects acquired look promising. But the emotional hole left behind required something more than statistics to fill. Ortiz, who once turned heartbreak into championship glory, has given Boston that bridge—a reminder that the game’s true currency is belief.
As the regular season heads toward its dramatic finish, Ortiz’s message of family over contracts lingers like the last rays of a Fenway sunset. Baseball, he says, is not simply about wins and losses but about faith, forgiveness, and the endless possibility of a comeback. And right now, with Boston surging when few expected it, Big Papi’s words feel less like comfort and more like a rallying cry.
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