David Ortiz says he's 'feeling good' in his 1st statement since shooting

Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has been released from the hospital and is speaking out for the first time since being shot in the Dominican Republic last month.

Ortiz in a statement on Monday thanked the medical team at the Center for Advanced Medicine in Santo Domingo and Massachusetts General Hospital, calling them "some of the best teammates I have ever had," per ABC News. He also thanked fans for their prayers and the Red Sox organization "for their continuing assistance to me and my family."

Ortiz was shot in the back at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic on June 9, subsequently undergoing three surgeries. By June 11, he was "stable, awake, and resting comfortably," his wife said. Dominican officials have said they believed the shooting to be a case of mistaken identity and that Ortiz was confused with someone else. Nine suspects have been charged in the case, CNN reports. In total, 14 suspects have been arrested, NBC News reports.

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"I am feeling good but know I need to do my rehab just like I did when I was recovering from injuries playing baseball," Ortiz said on Monday. But he added, "Big Papi will be back soon."