Life's a blur these days for Shane Victorino.

The 1999 St. Anthony School graduate and outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies became a father early Friday morning.

Kali'a Makenna Victorino checked in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces and 18 inches, the proud father said in a telephone interview yesterday from Las Vegas, where he resides in the offseason.

"This is my first," he said. "I'm excited."

Victorino got the call late Thursday. He caught a 1 a.m. Friday flight to Las Vegas, but he missed the birth.

"Tried to get home on time, but she had the baby three hours later (after his flight departure)," Victorino said.

The family checked out of the hospital last night.

Victorino missed the Phillies' final two exhibition games against the Boston Red Sox in Philadelphia. But he will rejoin the team in time for the season opener against the Atlanta Braves tomorrow at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. He is the starting right fielder, joining Aaron Rowand in center and Pat Burrell in left.

Victorino had a strong spring training in which he batted .324 with three doubles, two home runs, 14 runs and four steals.

This is his third season with the Phillies. Last year, he hit .287 with six home runs and 46 RBIs.

Victorino was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round in 1999. The San Diego Padres took him in the Rule 5 draft and he made his major league debut with them in 2003. He was eventually returned to the Dodgers before being picked up by the Phillies in the Rule 5 draft again before the 2005 season.

Victorino joins Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jerome Williams (Waipahu '99) and Atlanta reliever Tyler Yates (Kaua'i '95/Hawai'i-Hilo 1996 to 1998) as the only players with ties to Hawai'i to make the opening day rosters. Outfielder Benny Agbayani plays for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.