Phillies Fan Favorite Shane Victorino Released by Chicago Cubs
Phillies fan favorite Shane Victorino may have just seen his last days in a baseball uniform.
The outfielder from the Phillies 2008 World Championship team was released from his minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Victorino joined the Cubs organization in February of 2016. He spent the entire season with Triple-A Iowa, where he only played in nine games and had 30 at bats.
He hit .233 with two doubles and a triple. Of course, he also had a stolen base during his brief stint for the Iowa Cubs.
The Hawaiian native bounced around between the Dodgers and Padres organizations before being selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Phillies in 2004. The Phillies would offer Victorino back to the Dodgers, who declined to take him back.
After spending time in Triple-A for the Phillies, the “Flyin’ Hawaiian” made his way back up to Philadelphia in 2005 and became the starting right fielder in 2006.
With the departure of Aaron Rowand, the Phillies moved Victorino to center field, where he remained for the majority of his Philadelphia career.
During the Phillies 2008 championship run Victorino contributed several clutch hits, including a grand slam in the NLDS off C.C. Sabathia and a two-run home run against the Dodgers in the NLCS.
Victoronio would remain in Philadelphia until the summer of 2012 when he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitchers Josh Lindblom and Ethan Martin, as well as a player to be named later.
The outfielder would sign a three year contract with the Boston Redsox following 2012 season, and won his second ring as a member of the 2013 Boston Redsox World Series team.
After battling various injuries during his time in Boston, Victorino would be traded to the Los Angeles Angles for Josh Rutledge in July of 2015.
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During his eight year in Philadelphia Victorino played in 987 games and had 998 hits. He hit 181 doubles, 63 triples, 88 home runs, and stole 179 bases. He is 14th on the Phillies all-time stolen base list and ranks within the top 40 in nearly every offensive statistic for a Philadelphia Phillie.
In 10 playoff games in Phillies pinstripes, he hit six home runs and drove in 30 runs.
He was selected to two all-star games and earned three gold gloves in Philadelphia, as well as one with the Redsox.
In his 12 year major league career, Shane Victorino has played in 1,299 games and has 1,274 career hits. He holds a lifetime .275 batting average and stole 231 bases.
It would not be unthought-of for the Phillies to sign Victorino to a ceremonial contract during Alumni Weekend this summer. He was a catalyst during the Phillies playoff run and was as big a fan favorite as any other player with his terrific defense and clutch hitting.