David Price Opens Up About Relationship With David Ortiz Following News of Shooting

The baseball world was shaken to its core after learning about the shooting of Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz in his hometown of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Everyone from fans to players waited with bated breath as the updates poured in on Sunday night, and expressed relief that Ortiz was in stable condition following emergency surgery.

Red Sox pitcher David Price spoke of the relationship he had with Ortiz over the years. From being rivals when he was the ace of the Tampa Bay Rays, to becoming teammates with Ortiz in 2016.

"He embraced me with open arms," Price said, via MassLive.com. "It was his last year here, I didn’t want it to be anything about me and him. I wanted it to be all about him. He didn’t want it to be all about him. He wanted it to be about us as a team. I’ve got nothing but love and respect for Big Papi and he’s well aware of that."

Before becoming teammates, Ortiz and Price were bitter rivals, considering they were competing in the AL East. During the 2013 ALDS, Price expressed his anger after watching Ortiz admire a home run. In their first meeting afterwards in May 2014, Price plunked Ortiz as retaliation, and the Red Sox slugger was ready to go to "war" against the former Rays pitcher.

There were no hard feelings once Price joined the Red Sox via free agency. As Price mentioned in the quote above, he and Ortiz forged a friendship instead.

Competition brings out fiery emotions after two athletes on opposing teams. But once you get to know them as teammates, those previous feelings are put to the wayside.

David Price and David Ortiz did just that when the two joined forces in Boston.