Shane Victorino
Shane Patrick Victorino (born November 30, 1980), nicknamed "the Flyin' Hawaiian", is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was primarily a switch-hitter until the 2013 season, when discomfort from various hamstring, back, and knee problems forced him to become an exclusively right-handed batter.
Shane Victorino
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Victorino made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2003. He played for the Phillies from 2005 through 2012. With the Phillies, Victorino won three Gold Glove Awards, was named to two MLB All-Star Games, and was a member of the 2008 World Series champions. With the Red Sox, Victorino won his fourth Gold Glove Award and was a member of the 2013 World Series champions. He also won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 2008 and the Branch Rickey Award in 2011.
Early life[edit]
Victorino was born on November 30, 1980, in Wailuku, Hawaii. He is the youngest son born to Mike, Sr. and Joycelyn Victorino in Hawaii. When Victorino was very young he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.[1]
Victorino played baseball, soccer, basketball and football in his youth and ran track. As a senior at St. Anthony High School in Wailuku, he won state championships in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. His 100-meter time set a state record.[1] On the football field, he was a placekicker and slotback for head coach Charley Ane.[1][2]
Victorino signed a letter of intent to play college baseball for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors prior to the 1999 MLB draft. After he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round, June Jones also offered Victorino a scholarship to play for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team. He signed instead with Dodgers on June 8, 1999.[2]
Career[edit]
Los Angeles Dodgers[edit]
He spent the 1999 through 2002 seasons in the Dodgers minor league system, reaching Double-A with the Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League in 2002.
San Diego Padres[edit]
Victorino was selected in the 2002 Rule 5 draft by the San Diego Padres and made his Major League debut for the Padres on April 2, 2003, as a late inning defensive replacement against the San Francisco Giants. He recorded his first at-bat the following day against the Dodgers, grounding out to third base. He did not record his first hit until April 20, when he singled to right field off Shawn Chacón of the Colorado Rockies. He played in 36 games for the Padres with a .151 batting average. On May 28 he was returned by the Padres to the Dodgers.
Personal life[edit]
Victorino is the son of former Maui County Mayor Mike Victorino,[33] and is an Eagle Scout.[34] His father is a former State Representative in Hawaii and the current Supreme Warden for the Knights of Columbus, and Shane is a member.[35]
Victorino is married to the former Melissa Smith. Victorino and Smith wed in November 2009. On March 30, 2007, Smith gave birth to their first child, a daughter. On October 1, 2010, Smith gave birth to their son. During the off-seasons they live in Las Vegas.[36]
Victorino is of Portuguese, Hawaiian, Japanese, and English descent.[37][38] His last name is of Portuguese origin. In an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2011, he explained: "My name is really Victorine, which is Portuguese. My great-great-grandpa, when he was in the war, they spelled his name with an O at the end instead of an E, and it became Victorino."[17] He is a Sansei or third-generation Japanese-American on his mother's side.[39] Former Major League pitcher Kanekoa Texeira is a distant cousin of Victorino.[40]
Victorino is a fan of reggae musician Bob Marley and used Marley's songs "Buffalo Soldier" and "Three Little Birds" as at-bat music when he played for the Phillies and Red Sox, respectively. The crowd at Fenway Park would typically sing along with the chorus of "Three Little Birds" whenever Victorino came to bat.[41] When Victorino was traded to the Angels, he ceased using "Three Little Birds" as his at-bat music out of respect for the Red Sox and their fans.[42][43]
Victorino had a brief acting role in an episode of Hawaii Five-0, playing a character called Shaun.[44]