Shane Victorino

Victorino had a lost year in 2014, battling the same type of injuries he managed to play through during the 2013 season. A string of hamstring, groin, and back injuries limited him to just 30 games and he eventually underwent back surgery in August. When he was able to take the field, his power suffered as a result of the ailments, as he's slugged just .382 after posting a .451 mark while hitting 15 home runs in 2013. While he was unavailable and away from the team rehabbing, the Red Sox re-tooled their roster and Victorino's role entering 2015 is uncertain. The acquisitions of Hanley Ramirez, Allen Craig and Rusney Castillo, plus the promotion of prospect Mookie Betts, should make for an interesting spring training. Victorino may not have a starting job with the Red Sox this season, or he could be involved in a platoon, depending on how the front office shapes the roster prior to Opening Day.

Victorino suffered a slew of back/groin/hamstring issues throughout last season and played in just 122 games, but despite the injuries it was a bounceback year for Boston's right fielder. The Red Sox took some jabs for inking Victorino to a three-year deal in the offseason coming off the worst statistical season of his career in 2012, but it turned out well in the end, as Victorino played Gold-Glove winning defense in right field, was a threat on the basepaths, and had some key hits, including a grand slam in Boston's clinching Game 6 win over Detroit in the ALCS. The shape of Boston's outfield and batting order will change due to the loss of Jacoby Ellsbury, and Victorino's role in 2014 will adjust because of it. He could be asked to play center field; he could be asked to bat leadoff. Whatever manager John Farrell's plan be for 2014, it will regularly involve Victorino as long as he remains healthy.

Victorino took a step back last year, with all three numbers in his slash line (.255/.321/.383) representing career lows. Surprisingly, he did swipe a career-high 39 bases, so it's obviously far too early to write off the 31-year-old's fantasy value. Victorino drew walks in 8.0 percent of his plate appearances, which is right in line with his career rate, and it could be that his .280 BABIP turns around in 2013 and results in a higher batting average. Victorino also saw his power dip a bit last year, as just 31 percent of his hits went for extra bases versus a combined 37 percent mark over the previous three seasons. If he can return to hitting in the .270 range with around 10 home runs, Victorino will have plenty of fantasy value as it appears he still likes to run, and he will get a chance to recoup his value as the Red Sox's right fielder after signing a three-year, $39 million deal with Boston in December.

Victorino missed time with a hamstring injury and then a thumb sprain last season but was productive when he was in the lineup. His stolen-base numbers took a bit of a hit, especially over the last three months of the season when he stole just six bags, but the leg injury likely forced him to be less aggressive on the basepaths. Victorino's aggressive playing style does make him a bit of an injury risk, but he is still in his prime years. We expect him to maintain his recent production from past seasons and perhaps he'll even see a bit of a boost in his batting average if his BABIP returns toward his career norm this season.

Victorino was expected to spend the majority of last year hitting in the bottom half of the Phillies batting order, but an injury to Jimmy Rollins forced the Phils to use Victorino atop their lineup for much of the year. Victorino posted a career-high 18 home runs in 2010 but saw his batting average dip to .259, the lowest of his career. A .273 BABIP may be partially to blame for that lower average, but Victorino's home-run total and a career-high flyball percentage on batted balls in play indicate that he was swinging for the fences more than in the past. If his BABIP normalizes this season we'd expect his batting average to move back up closer to his career average. Jimmy Rollins will likely get his leadoff spot back, so Victorino figures to hit sixth or seventh for the Phillies. He remains a valuable fantasy play thanks to his solid offensive game and his ability to swipe around 30 bags annually.

Victorino put together another very good year for the Phillies last season. He plays very good defense in center field, has a great arm and a solid approach at the plate. He spent the majority of last season batting second behind Jimmy Rollins and in front of Chase Utley but the signing of Placido Polanco could push Victorino down lower in the order if the Phillies see Polanco as their ideal No. 2 hitter due to his high contact rate. A drop in the order may mean fewer runs for Victorino, but it could also lead to more RBI opportunities. Expect fairly similar results to last season.

Victorino burst onto the fantasy scene in 2007 and was a bit better in 2008. The Flyin’ Hawaiian finished the season batting .293 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI, 102 runs and 36 stolen bases while adding two home runs, 13 RBI and three stolen bases in the playoffs. He’ll continue to play nearly every day next season and is a great provider of stolen bases and runs who won't hurt you in any other category. There’s no reason to think he won’t stay on par with the production he’s put forth the past two seasons as long as he remains in good health.

Victorino was a stunner for the Phillies in right field this year. The former Rule 5 draft pick came out of nowhere and lit a fire under the Phillies, while posting solid numbers with a .281 batting average and .347 on-base percentage. He was sixth in the NL with 37 stolen bases on the year, even though he missed half of August with a calf injury. He enjoyed a power surge this season hitting a career-high 12 homers, 23 doubles and 46 RBI. With Aaron Rowand now playing for the Giants, Victorino will move back to center and try to lock up the everyday job this spring.

Victorino has matured from an undisciplined Rule 5 pick to a player who has a starting job lined up for him in right field for the Phillies in 2007. His hustle endeared him to a club that has relied too much on veterans whose desire has been questioned. He’s a slap hitter who occasionally hits for power. Victorino needs to boost his walk totals more to be effective at the top of the order, but he did score 70 runs despite walking only 24 times in 415 at-bats.

Victorino has been a Rule 5 draft pick twice and is in his third organization. He won't appear in many prospect guides, but he made legitimate progress in Triple-A, displaying solid tools across the board. The Phillies are set at center field with Aaron Rowand and Jason Michaels, but Victorino could play his way onto the team or be valuable trade bait.