Boston Red Sox

David Ortiz rips Donald Trump: 'As Latin people, we deserve better'

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:59 p.m. ET

Pete Blackburn

If he sticks to the plan he laid out prior to this season, David Ortiz will be retired in just a few months time. In the meantime, the veteran designated hitter is trying to lead his Red Sox to a playoff push in hopes of securing a fourth World Series title as a grand finale.

But Ortiz is also capitalizing on his platform and using the final stretch of his career to voice his stance on issues outside of baseball. In a recent interview with USA Today, the 40-year-old slugger discussed Donald Trump and, specifically, the presidential candidate's hard stance against immigrants in the United States.

Ortiz, who is from the Dominican Republic, doesn't typically offer political commentary, as he's admittedly not well-versed on American politics. But, with that being said, Ortiz says that some of Trump's commentary has not sat well with him. The Republican candidate is on record saying that he wants to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico in an effort to keep out the "crime" and "rapists" that are migrating north of the border.

“When you speak like that about us, it’s a slap in the face,” Ortiz said, via USA Today. “I walk around sometimes, and I see Mexican people trying to earn a living in an honest way. And to hear somebody make those kinds of comments, it hits you. I think as Latin people we deserve better. Things have gotten much better in that regard. … As Latin people we deserve respect, no matter where you’re from. And especially our Mexican brothers, who come here willing to do all the dirty work.

“Latin people here in the United States are the spark plug of the country’s economy. Whoever opposes that is going to lose. And not just Latin people but immigrants. I’m talking about people who come from Africa, from Asia, other places. All those people come here with one goal, to realize the American dream, and you have to include them in our group.”

Since Ortiz rarely offers his input on politics, it becomes a little more obvious that he feels strongly enough about this subject to weigh in and provide his thoughts.