Shane Victorino
| Shane Victorino | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Philadelphia Phillies – No. 8 | |
| Right field | |
Bats: Both Throws: Right | |
| debut | |
| April 2, 2003, for the San Diego Padres | |
| Career statistics (through August 30, 2007) | |
| Batting average | .276 |
| Stolen Bases | 45 |
| Runs scored | 158 |
| Teams | |
| |
Shane Patrick Victorino (born November 30, 1980 in Wailuku, Hawaii) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed. In reference to his speed and place of birth, he has been nicknamed "The Flyin' Hawaiian", "The Pineapple Express", "The Energizer Bunny", "Muscles From Maui", and "Shane-O".
Shane's strongest attribute on the baseball diamond is his impressive speed, both in the outfield and on the bases. This comes as no surprise, since he is a former Hawaii state high school track and field champ (Spring, 1999) for St. Anthony's High School in the 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m dashes. His 100 m time (10.80) was also a state record. He has been consistently clocked at 3.7-3.8 sec. from home to first right handed. He has an extremely strong arm, throwing out base runners who are heading for home plate from deep in the outfield with ease.
Throughout the 2004 season, Victorino owned a .178 batting average, though he batted .294 in the 2005 season with the Philadelphia Phillies and was named the International League (AAA) Most Valuable Player.
Originally drafted out of high school by the Los Angeles Dodgers (1999), Victorino has had experience in two different Major League organizations. He made his Major League debut in 2003 with the San Diego Padres and played in 2005 with the Phillies. He was one of the two reserve outfielders for the Phillies in the 2006 season, along with David Dellucci. During the 2006 season, Victorino had a chance to play regularly when an early season injury to teammate Aaron Rowand required he take Rowand's spot. The trade of Bobby Abreu, slumping performance of Pat Burrell, and another Rowand injury on August 21, 2006, gave Victorino even more playing time.
Victorino was originally a Rule 5 draft pick in 2002 by the San Diego Padres, but was later returned to the Dodgers. He was a Rule 5 pick again in 2004; the Phillies this time retained him.
In 2007, Victorino changed his jersey number from 18 to 8 after giving number 18 to new teammate Wes Helms in exchange for a new watch.
Victorino is the Phillies starting right fielder for the 2007 season. He permanently replaced Bobby Abreu, who was traded to the New York Yankees midway through the 2006 season.
On June 3, 2007 the Phillies celebrated "Shane Victorino" day with Victorino hula figurines. Victorino ended the day's game with a walk-off home run and Shane celebrating by swallowing a figurine whole at home plate.