The Philadelphia Phillies have found their new Shane Victorino

We don’t know everything about baseball, particularly the front office stuff, even after following the game for years. The Rule 5 Draft was introduced to many of us fans when we stopped to think about how the Philadelphia Phillies got Shane Victorino in the first place.

Victorino was a Rule 5 Draft pick by the Phillies in 2004 when they snatched him away from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had been selected by the San Diego Padres previously but was later returned to the Dodgers. The Phillies would only return him to Los Angeles in 2012 when it was a trade deadline deal, not part of the Rule 5 Draft.

Victorino was a huge part of the Phillies’ success. More memorable, he was fun. It looks like the Phillies might have a new Victorino on their hands. Can Brandon Marsh replicate the abilities and thrills Victorino gave the fans?

The Phillies have their new Shane Victorino with Brandon Marsh in center field.

The circumstances are much different. Marsh, a former second-round draft pick, did cost the team catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe. He’s not some kind of scrap heap pickup by the team like Victorino. Marsh joined the Phillies as a second-year player with some hype.

Many of the additions the team has made in recent seasons have been short-term rentals. Nearly all of their young players who have been promoted have as many questions as they have answers. Defense is usually the biggest question of all.

Marsh’s glove might not be golden enough quite yet. It’s still in development. What it does do is finally put an end to the carousel of Odubel Herrera and others at the position. Ever since Victorino left the team, the Phillies have had no suitable answer at the position. Is Marsh the guy?

Victorino often found himself hitting behind Jimmy Rollins at the top of the lineup. Marsh’s spot with this currently constructed Phillies ball club will probably have him hitting ninth. The game has evolved. The way Marsh does play could lead to him eventually hitting closer to the top. Speed is evident. He just needs to get through those early growing pains many young hitters suffer through.

On the fun meter, Marsh has an early start on Victorino. He joined at an exciting time in the middle of a successful pennant race. Expectations for him are far greater than they were when Victorino first joined the Phillies. The hope should be that he becomes anything like him.