Imagine tuning in to your favorite reality show, only to discover a baseball legend hiding behind a wacky costume—it’s the kind of surprise that leaves you grinning from ear to ear. That’s exactly what happened during the season 14 premiere of The Masked Singer on Wednesday night, when a Boston sports icon was unmasked in a jaw-dropping reveal. But here’s where it gets even more intriguing: the celebrity in question wasn’t just any star—it was none other than World Series hero and Hall of Famer David Ortiz, better known to fans as Big Papi. And this is the part most people miss: his performance of DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s ‘Turn Down for What’ didn’t secure him a spot in the next round, despite his larger-than-life presence—literally, as host Nick Cannon pointed out, his Googly Eyes costume was the biggest the show has ever seen. Ortiz even joked that wearing it was ‘a straight-up workout,’ quipping, ‘I don’t need to go to the gym for about a month.’
The celebrity judges—Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora—were stumped, with most guessing former Red Sox stars (except McCarthy Wahlberg, who surprisingly threw out Derek Jeter’s name). Thicke guessed Pedro Martinez, Ora went with Manny Ramirez, and Jeong was the only one to correctly identify Big Papi. Ortiz couldn’t resist a playful jab at the judges, declaring, ‘Daa Yankees lose!’ after his reveal, a nod to the Yankees-themed guess.
But here’s the controversial part: The Masked Singer has a history of featuring Boston sports stars, from Bronson Arroyo’s Sherlock Hound costume in season 12 to Rob Gronkowski’s White Tiger outfit in season 3. Is this a trend, or just a coincidence? And does it give Boston fans an unfair advantage in guessing the contestants? Let’s be honest—when you see a monster-themed costume, your mind might jump to someone who’s famous for hitting home runs off the Green Monster at Fenway Park. Ortiz’s clues in his intro video certainly pointed in that direction, with references to ‘monster hits’ and shoutouts to famous pals like ‘Bacon, Krasinski, Tucker.’
What’s undeniable is that Big Papi brought his signature charm and humor to the stage, even if his singing didn’t quite hit a home run with the judges. It raises a thought-provoking question: Do we love seeing athletes on The Masked Singer because of their talent, or simply because of the nostalgia and excitement they bring? Sound off in the comments—do you think Ortiz deserved to stay longer, or was his early exit justified? One thing’s for sure: this season is already off to a legendary start.
