Hanley Ramirez hopes to help the Boston Red Sox fill the leadership void left behind by David Ortiz, who retired after last season.

Ramirez took over Ortiz's spot in the Spring Training clubhouse, including the two end-row lockers near the door.

"He's my mentor," Ramirez said of Ortiz. "He's my everything."

Ramirez will also take over as Boston's primary designated hitter.

"The difference between me and David is David, he can talk. I don't like to talk a lot. I'm more quiet," Ramirez said. "David always finds a way to get to know you, to talk to you. That's a good thing. I learned that from him, and that's one of the things I'm going to try to do this year, too.

"He's teaching me, showing me the way to be a leader and a champion, every day. His legacy, his way to play the game, the way to teach people around him, how he tries to make everybody happy around him, David was unbelievable."