David Ortiz Throws First Pitch for Red Sox Months After Shootingbr .br Ortiz surprised fans when he threw out the br ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park.br .br Boston played their final game br of the season against the rival br New York Yankees on Monday night.br .br It was Ortiz's first br public appearance br since being shot in June.br .br The former Red Sox star was shot in the back at br a club in the Dominican Republic on June 9.br .br Ortiz addressed the Boston crowd before br he threw the first pitch to former br Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek.br .br I want to thank all of you for all the prayers. I really appreciate it. Thank you very much. I want to thank my former teammates for being there for me, David Ortiz, via statementbr br br .br Also, I want to thank the Yankees, a lot of my boys over there and checked up on Big Papi. Thank you very much, appreciate it ... God bless you all. Go Sox.br , David Ortiz, via statement.br Police have determined that a br hit man shot Ortiz by mistake.br .br Ortiz underwent three surgeries where he had br some of his intestines and gallbladder removed.