Shane Victorino could soon become another option for the Cubs outfield
Shane Victorino played his fifth game Thursday for the Iowa Cubs, well most of it anyway. Victorino went 1-for-3 at the plate and stole his first base of the season. Victorino, along with manager Marty Pevey, was ejected from the game in the sixth inning of the 7-2 loss to the Sounds for arguing a controversial play in left field that resulted in an inside-the-park Grand Slam.
In five games for the Iowa Cubs, Victorino is 6-for-20 with a pair of doubles and a triple. That’s a .300/.333/.500 slash line for a .833 OPS. Victorino hasn’t walked yet but has only one strikeout. And he’s hitting from both sides of the plate.
Victorino is 2-for-8 with a double against southpaws and 4-for-12 with a double and a triple batting left-handed.
Defensively, Victorino has played left and right field in the five games for Iowa.
Shane Victorino re-signed with the Cubs on a minor league deal at the end of March. Terms of his new contract have not been released. Victorino stayed in Arizona when the regular season started, as planned, to prepare for a minor league assignment. Victorino played in extended Spring Training games before reporting to Iowa.
Victorino recently spoke with the Des Moines Register about his plans moving forward.
Victorino said he is supposed to play two or three weeks with Iowa. After that he would re-evaluate where he was with the front office and go from there. “If it’s meant to be in two or three weeks, it’s meant to be,” Victorino said to the Des Moines Register. “If not, then life as a dad goes on.” Victorino is having fun and told the Des Moines Register that the Cubs have a bunch of great kids in Iowa.
Victorino reported to Iowa and played in his first game May 6. Based on his timeline, May 20 and May 27 would be the dates to keep an eye on.
With Matt Szczur due to come off the disabled list on May 18 and Shane Victorino staying on course with Triple-A Iowa, Joe Maddon could soon have two different options on his bench for the outfield.