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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:54 a.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Baseball: Red Sox slugger Ortiz sworn as US citizen

By NANCY KELSEY
Associated Press Writer

BOSTON — A Red Sox Nation slugger has found a new nation to call home.

David Ortiz and 220 other immigrants became U.S. citizens today at a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston.

The 32-year-old slugger from the Dominican Republic held an American flag in one hand as he recited the Pledge of Allegiance with the other new citizens. He was joined by many members of his family, including his father, Americo, who said in Spanish afterward he was proud of his son.

Ortiz has been out of the Red Sox lineup since June 1, when he injured his wrist. He has been with the Red Sox since 2003, helping to power them to two World Series championships in the past five years.