Victorino to rehab in Reading on Friday night

Reading, PA -- Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino will continue his Major League rehab assignment with the Reading Phillies tonight, Friday, April 25 when the R-Phils host the Connecticut Defenders (Giants) at 7:05 PM. Victorino has been on the disabled list with a strained right calf since April 12. 

Victorino began his rehab assignment on Wednesday at Clearwater and went 2-for-3 with an RBI, BB, CS. He was 0-for-2 with a R, BB, SO last night for the Threshers. He started both games in center field. 

He also rehabbed a strained right calf in Reading on August 14 and August 21 last season. On January 24, 2008 Victorino was in Reading as part of the Phillies Winter Tour. 

In 12 games for the Phillies this season he is hitting .234 (11-47) with a 3B, 3 RBI and a SB. 

In 131 games for the Phillies last season Victorino hit .281 (128-456) with 78 R, 23 2B, 3 3B, 12 HR, 46 RBI and 37 SB. Defensively he notched 10 outfield assists. 

The native Hawaiian was originally selected by the Dodgers in the 6th round of the 1999 draft. He was selected by San Diego in the annual Rule 5 draft on December 16, 2002 and made his Major League debut with the Padres in 2003. 

The Phillies acquired the 26-year old from the San Diego Padres in the Rule 5 draft on December 13, 2004.

He spent the 2005 season playing for the Phillies Triple-A affiliate when they were in Scranton Wilkes-Barre and was named International League Player of the Year (126 G, .310, 93 R, 25 2B, 16 3B, 18 HR, 70 RBI, 17 SB). 

Victorino made his Phillies debut as a September call-up in 2005 (21 G, .294, 5 R, 2 HR, 8 RBI). In 2006, his first full season in the Majors, he hit .287 (119-415) in 153 games, with 6 HR and 46 RBI. 

This story was posted on April 25, 2008