Imagine tuning into The Masked Singer and seeing a towering, furry red monster take the stage, only to discover it’s none other than baseball legend David Ortiz, aka Big Papi! Yes, you read that right—the Hall of Famer traded his bat for a microphone, and it was as unexpected as it was entertaining. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite his larger-than-life personality, Ortiz’s performance of DJ Snake and Lil’ John’s Turn Down for What didn’t quite hit the mark with viewers, earning him the fewest votes and an early exit from the competition. And this is the part most people miss: being eliminated on The Masked Singer actually means you get unmasked, so Big Papi’s identity was revealed in the season premiere on FOX.
Before the big unveil, the judges had their guesses, with Jenny McCarthy throwing out Derek Jeter’s name—a hilarious misstep considering Ortiz and Jeter’s storied rivalry on the field. Was it a missed opportunity for Ortiz to dress as the Green Monster instead of a red one? Maybe, but the red costume was a showstopper in its own right. According to host Nick Cannon, it was the largest costume ever used on the show, even bigger than the ones worn by NBA stars like the 6-foot-10 Dwight Howard. Talk about a workout! Ortiz himself admitted that performing in the clunky outfit was exhausting, joking, ‘I don’t need to go to the gym for about a month.’
But let’s rewind for a second—should we have seen this coming? After all, Big Papi isn’t exactly new to the spotlight, and his deep bass voice made headlines when he sang O Canada during a postgame interview for Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage. While his Masked Singer performance might not have been pitch-perfect, at least he remembered the lyrics—a small victory for the Googly Eyed Monster. Still, it raises a thought-provoking question: do athletes like Ortiz have what it takes to dominate the stage like they do the field? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—agree or disagree, this is one debate that’s sure to spark some fiery opinions!
