David Ortiz on Derek Jeter's injury: 'It's just not right'

Despite waging many battles against the New York Yankees and their shortstop Derek Jeter, Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was floored when he found out about the ankle injury that will keep the Yankee captain from finishing out the season, a story by the Boston Herald reported Monday.

"He’s got to be so devastated, bro," Ortiz said. "That’s a tough one. I know that’s the one guy you don’t want to see something like that happen to. You don’t want to see that happen to anybody, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s a class a guy, you know what I’m saying? There’s not one person in baseball that doesn’t respect Derek Jeter. He’s the kind of guy that every time you play the Yankees, you want to play against him. That’s how much respect I have for him. Watching him go down like that is not right. It’s just not right."

Ortiz, who's waiting to work out a new contract with the Red Sox, admitted he did not see Jeter's injury live, but instead learned about it the following morning when he received a text message. The news caught the rival off guard.

Jeter suffered a fractured ankle in the bottom of the 12th inning of Saturday's 6-4 loss in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. The 13-time All-Star dove for a ground ball hit by Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta and injured his ankle in the process. He was helped off the field by the Yankees' trainer and manager Joe Girardi. It's likely the injury will require surgery to repair potential ligament damage.

The Yankees trail the Tigers in the ALCS, 2-0, in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 will be played at 8 p.m. Tuesday on TBS.