Big Papi wounded by gunshot in Dominican Republic

 

 ‘‘He is out of surgery and stable; he is resting,’’ his father, Leo Ortiz, said. ‘‘Big Papi will be around for a long time.’

 Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was hospitalized Monday following surgery for a gunshot wound after being ambushed by a man in a bar in his native Dominican Republic, authorities said.

Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte said Ortiz was at the Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo around 8:50 p.m. Sunday when a gunman approached from behind and shot him at close range. Ortiz was taken to the Abel Gonzalez clinic, where he underwent surgery, and his condition was stable, Bautista said.

Ortiz’s father, Leo, speaking to reporters outside the clinic, said his son was out of danger and there wasn’t any collateral damage, meaning no damage to major organs. He said he had no idea why someone would have shot at his son.

‘‘He is out of surgery and stable; he is resting,’’ Leo Ortiz said. ‘‘Big Papi will be around for a long time.’’

The Boston Red Sox, in a statement early Monday, said they have been notified by Ortiz’s family that he sustained a gunshot wound to his ‘‘lower back/abdominal region’’ and that he is recovering after surgery.

The Red Sox said they offered the Ortiz family ‘‘all available resources to aid in his recovery’’ and they will continue to keep them in their hearts.