Ex-Isle players seek big break
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Although his big league experience was brief, Shane Victorino said it was invaluable and hopes it will help him return to the majors.
Victorino is in Vero Beach, Fla., in spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 1999 draft out of St. Anthony High in Wailuku. Because he is not on the 40-man roster, he is in camp as non-roster invitee.
"It helped me a great deal," Victorino said from in a telephone interview from Florida. "I know what to expect, know what's needed to be done. That (experience) helped me a lot to prepare for this spring."
Victorino's taste of the majors became possible in the winter of 2002, when the San Diego Padres picked him in the Rule 5 draft when the Dodgers left him unprotected, or off their 40-man roster. By taking him via Rule 5, the Padres were obligated to keep him on the 25-man roster, or return him to the Dodgers. The Padres kept him, but placed him on waivers on May 28, effectively sending him back to the Dodgers organization. He played most of the season at Double-A Jacksonville (Fla.), but was eventually promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he hit .390 in 11 games.
Victorino was with the Padres for just under two months. He got into 36 games, batting .151 with seven steals in nine tries.
Victorino said he is battling for the left field spot, along with Jolbert Cabrera, Bubba Trammell and Jason Romano.
The Dodgers have projected Dave Roberts in center and newly acquired Juan Encarnacion in right. Shawn Green is being pegged at first base after playing primarily right field since joining the Dodgers in 2000.
"From what I see, left field is not set in stone," Victorino said, "and the fourth and fifth outfield positions are wide open."
Victorino, who turned 23 in November, had surgery on his right knee in September and did his rehabilitation with Honolulu physical therapist Pat Ariki.
If Victorino does not make the Dodgers, he said he will likely be assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas.
The only players with ties to Hawai'i on 40-man rosters are pitchers Tyler Yates (Kaua'i High and Hawai'i-Hilo), Jerome Williams (Waipahu) with the San Francisco Giants and Justin Wayne (Punahou) with the Florida Marlins.
Trying to regain spots on the 40-man roster are Cincinnati Reds catcher Dane Sardinha (Kamehameha), Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Chris Truby (Damien) and pitcher Brandon Villafuerte (Big Island-born). All have had a taste of the big leagues.
Making a different jump is outfielder Benny Agbayani (Saint Louis/Hawai'i Pacific), who signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan. He is reunited with former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine.
Meanwhile, outfielder Bronson Sardinha (Kamehameha) and pitcher Brandon League (Saint Louis), are still regarded as top prospects in their respective organizations. Sardinha, the 34th overall (sandwich round) pick in 2001 by the New York Yankees, is ranked 10th in his organization by Baseball America. League, a second-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2001, also is ranked 10th in his organization by the same publication.
Also of note, former UH center fielder Tim Montgomery, who signed late after being picked in the 23rd round by the Cleveland Indians in June, is rehabilitating a knee injury he sustained in a pick-up basketball game, he said. The injury occurred before he was supposed to attend fall instructional league. He said he will be assigned to a short-season league, which starts in the summer.
Another former Rainbow, pitcher Chris George, said he will be assigned to Single-A San Jose. He was signed as an undrafted free agent a week before last year's draft. His manager will be Kalani High graduate Lenn Sakata, entering his sixth season in the Giants organization.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
