Shane Victorino’s Power Surge Leading Sox Down Stretch Run

Through the first four months of the season, Shane Victorino was a productive player for the Red Sox. Sure, he had dealt with some injuries but when healthy he had gotten on base at a .328 clip and had played superb defense in the spacious Fenway Park right field. He had endeared himself to Red Sox fans with his defense and enthusiasm, but he had not really been living up to his contract yet, slashing just .285/.328/.402, good for a decent, but not great .730 OPS.

Sep 6, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Shane Victorino (18) hits a two-run home run against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

It’s rare that a mild, nagging injury is the best thing to happen for a player but that is the case with 2013 Shane Victorino. Attempting to make a spectacular catch, not a rarity for Victorino, on August 4, he hurt that hamstring which had bothered him the whole season. It allegedly hurt Victorino to bat left-handed, so he has switched over to full time right-handedness and has become one of the hottest hitters in baseball since.

Victorino absolutely tore up the league in August, slashing .328/.392/.578, good for a .970 OPS that month, easily leading the Red Sox. Entering the month of August, Victorino had 5 home runs. In August, Victorino had 7 home runs. And best of all, Victorino stayed healthy for the entire month– playing 28 games and cementing his spot as an excellent #2 hitter in an excellent lineup.

Victorino has not been quite so hot in September, but the power has remained for the Flyin’ Hawaiian. He is slashing .261/.393/.522 in September and has continued to be a major power threat in a lineup not lacking in power this month. Victorino has always been a jack-of-all-trades type player, and if he can continue this production into the postseason, all of those trades will have been worthwhile.