ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- According to Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell, Shane Victorino is day to day after coming out of Wednesday’s game with tightness in his right hamstring.

What remains to be seen is whether “day to day” means something different since Victorino had back surgery last August than it did prior to surgery, when the hamstring issues were chronic.

“Good question," said Farrell, who had announced his intentions to sit Victorino for Daniel Nava on Thursday even before Victorino left Wednesday night’s game in the fifth inning after the hamstring tightened up when he stole second in the fourth.

“This is the first time we’re dealing with it post-surgery."

Farrell said Victorino did not have any hamstring issues in spring training. This was the first time this season he had played in four straight games, though. Farrell noted that Victorino had broken to steal during the previous at-bat, with Ryan Hanigan at the plate, retreated back to first when Hanigan lifted a fly to right, then took off again to steal with Mookie Betts at the plate.

Victorino went on the DL twice last season after straining the same hamstring, and the left hamstring placed him on the DL and required constant monitoring in 2013. Victorino has been on the DL six times with either hamstring or calf issues since the start of the 2007 season, and nine times overall.

His aggressive style of play has taken an obvious physical toll, which calls into a question how much longer the 34-year-old Victorino can stand up to the pounding. He has started nine of the team’s first 15 games, batting only .143 (5 for 35), though he hasn’t missed a beat defensively.

Farrell said Victorino actually felt better than expected when he showed up at the ballpark Thursday, but he’ll have to pass some running tests before he will be restored to the lineup. He worked out on the elliptical machine Thursday.