A-Rod: Ortiz deserves standing ovation at Yankee Stadium

David Ortiz may have been joking about wanting a standing ovation at Yankee Stadium, but Alex Rodriguez feels the Boston Red Sox slugger has earned the heartfelt send-off.

Rodriguez hopes Yankees fans will give Ortiz a warm reception when he visits the Bronx in September for his final regular-season game before he retires.

"I think Big Papi deserves it," Rodriguez told Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. "He's had a phenomenal career and he's been a great ambassador for the game and he will continue to be.

"He's given us a lot of pain over the years, but I think Yankee fans appreciate great baseball and great talent, and there is an appreciation for Big Papi, even though they won't admit it. I will celebrate everything Big Papi has done."

Related: Ortiz: Yankee Stadium ovation request was a joke

Formerly close friends, Rodriguez and Ortiz recently put an end to a feud that began two years ago after the infielder's agent suggested Ortiz took performance-enhancing drugs.

"It was great to reconnect with Papi," Rodriguez said. "I'm very proud of his career."