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Mourning Ortiz asks Rays to cancel ceremony in his honor

MLB.com

The Tampa Bay Rays have canceled a pregame ceremony for David Ortiz after the Boston Red Sox slugger made the request following the tragic death of his friend Jose Fernandez.

The Rays planned to honor the retiring Ortiz prior to Sunday's finale in St. Petersburg - Tampa Bay's final home game of the season.

"Given today's tragedy, we are canceling our pregame ceremony recognizing @Red Sox David Ortiz, per his wishes," the Rays tweeted Sunday, hours after the 24-year-old pitcher died in a boating accident off the coast of Miami Beach.

Shortly after news of Fernandez's death spread through the baseball world, Ortiz was among several players to share his grief.

During Sunday's game, Ortiz was spotted wearing a Red Sox cap inscribed with Fernandez's No. 16 and initials.

"Today we were supposed to have an event on the field about my retirement and I told them no, today is about Jose," Ortiz said on MLB Network.

Fernandez famously joked earlier this season he wanted to let Ortiz hit a home run during his final All-Star Game in July, triggering a playful back-and-forth exchange and memorable moment during the Red Sox slugger's last Midsummer Classic at-bat.

"I told him yesterday that I am going to throw him three fastballs down the middle," Fernandez told ESPN's Marly Rivera the day before the game. "I want to watch him hit a home run."

Fernandez ended up walking Ortiz, who later lobbied after the game for the Red Sox to trade for the Marlins' star pitcher during the offseason.

The Rays said it will instead show an Ortiz tribute video during the game, and will share their gifts for him privately.

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)

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