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Former Red Sox star David Ortiz recovering after being shot in Dominican Republic

The former slugger was reportedly shot in the lower back and is stable.

David Ortiz had his number retired by the Red Sox in 2017.
David Ortiz had his number retired by the Red Sox in 2017.Read moreElise Amendola / AP

Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz is recovering in intensive care after being shot in the Dominican Republic Sunday night.

Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte told the Associated Press that Ortiz, 43, was at the Dial Bar and Lounge in Santo Domingo around 8:50 p.m. when the gunman approached from behind and shot him in the lower back. Ortiz was taken to the Abel Gonzalez clinic, where he underwent surgery and was considered to be in stable condition.

“They called to tell me that David is injured and that they took him to a medical center, but they did not tell me how he is or exactly where he was transferred,” Leo Ortiz, David Ortiz’s father, told ESPN’s Enrique Rojas on Sunday night.

ESPN’s Marly Rivera reports that Ortiz underwent surgery late into the night.

“Doctors say he is out of danger, but he is heavily sedated and will be in intensive care for the next 24 hours,” Ortiz’s media assistant, Leo Lopez, told ESPN.

Police said they could not speculate on a motive for the shooting. A suspect has been detained, according to reports.

The Red Sox issued a statement early Monday morning regarding the shooting:

Ortiz, a star in his home country, won three World Series in his 14 seasons with the Red Sox and took home MVP honors in his final one in 2013. He hit 541 homers in 20 major league seasons, including 14 with the Red Sox, and was a 10-time All-Star.

Ortiz now works as a MLB studio analyst for Fox Sports.

Social media was flooded with support from Ortiz from former teammates, opponents, and current players.