Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was shot in the back in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, Dominican National Police spokesman Felix Duran Mejia has confirmed.

Duran Mejia told CNN that Ortiz was shot in an incident that took place at Dial Discotheque in Santo Domingo, the Dominican capital.

He said Ortiz was shot by a motorcyclist who approached him directly. Duran Mejia said that when Ortiz was shot, 'the bullet went through his stomach."

ESPN's Marly Rivera provided more details, saying that after Ortiz was shot, he was taken to a local clinic where doctors said he's out of danger.

Dominican National Police Director Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte also confirmed to Associated Press that Ortiz's in stable condition. He added that the shooter was taken down and beaten by people at Dial Discotheque and thus could not be questioned by the police before receiving treatment.

Ortiz,44, played 20 seasons in the MLB. The 10-time All-Star "Big Papi" first signed with the Seattle Mariners which traded him to the Minnesota Twins as part of the deal to get Dave Hollins. Ortiz stayed in Minnesota for six seasons before he joined the Boston Red Sox in 2003 and that's when his career began to shine.

From 2004 to 2016, Ortiz was selected into the All-Star Game 10 times, won seven Silver Slugger Awards, two Hank Aaron Awards, the 2004 ALCS MVP and the 2006 AL home run leader. More importantly, he helped the Red Sox win three World Series (2004, 2007 and 2013) and in 2013 became the World Series MVP.

Having achieved 2,472 hits and 541 home runs in his career, Ortiz is regarded as one of the greatest designated hitters in MLB history. On June 23, 2017, his No.34 was retired by the Red Sox.