Posted on: Saturday, May 24, 2003

Victorino no longer member of Padres

Associated Press

Maui's Shane Victorino was designated for assignment yesterday by the San Diego Padres.

The 1999 St. Anthony School graduate played in 36 games with the Padres, batting .151 with two doubles and four RBIs. He had seven steals in nine attempts.

Victorino, who is from Wailuku, was taken by the Padres from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Rule 5 Draft in December. A Rule 5 drafted player is required to stay on the big league roster or must clear waivers before being sent to the minors.

Victorino signed with the Dodgers, who picked him in the sixth round of the 1999 draft. After four seasons in the Dodgers minor league system, he was left off the 40-man roster, making him eligible for the Rule 5 draft.

The Padres also placed center fielder Mark Kotsay on the 15-day disabled list and activated catcher Gary Bennett, who had been out for more than a month with a knee injury.

The Padres also reacquired outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., claiming him off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Matthews, whose father played in the big leagues, was drafted by the Padres in 1993.

Kotsay was placed on the DL retroactive to Monday with a sprained lower back. To replace Kotsay, outfielder Jason Bay was recalled from Triple-A Portland.