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Ortiz blasts Red Sox writer who left him off HOF ballot: 'He's an asshole'

Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

There is no love lost between David Ortiz and Boston Red Sox writer Dan Shaughnessy.

Ortiz hopped on WEEI's "Merloni and Fauria" show on Wednesday to discuss his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility. It didn't take long before they asked Ortiz about one of the lone BBWAA members who didn't name the retired slugger on their ballot.

"You know Dan Shaughnessy has been an asshole to everybody," the legendary designated hitter responded when asked about his relationship with the Boston Globe scribe.

"He's got no damn power, bro. You know that," Ortiz continued when asked if Shaughnessy leaving him off the ballot was an abuse of power. "He's just got the power of the pen to write whatever he believes on, but everybody knows that he's an asshole."

One week ago, the Globe writers who are voting members of the BBWAA all released their Hall of Fame ballots. Shaughnessy was the lone member to leave Ortiz off his ballot, instead only voting for Jeff Kent.

Ortiz currently leads all public ballots with 83.7% of the vote, according to Ryan Thibodaux's Hall of Fame tracker. If the 162 public ballots are any indication, Ortiz would be inducted alongside Barry Bonds (77.3%) and Roger Clemens (76.2%).

The long-time Red Sox slugger retired following the 2016 campaign as a 10-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger, and three-time World Series champion. He also won MVP of the Fall Classic in 2013 and ALCS MVP in 2004. Ortiz managed 541 homers over his 20-year career, ranking 17th all time.

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