Target is Tuesday for Utley
Up to the minute Philadelphia sports news, Phillies, 76ers, Eagles, Flyers, college sports and more from Philly.com
Target is Tuesday for Utley
Matt Gelb
UPDATE (7:56 p.m.): Chase Utley goes 1 for 3 in his first rehab game for single-A Clearwater. He grounded out to first, struck out looking and tripled in his final at-bat. He played five innings in the field.
EARLIER: Updating what we previously reported on Chase Utley...
Utley is scheduled to play in rehab games over the next three days for single-A Clearwater. If all goes well, the Phillies second baseman could be activated from the disabled list as soon as Tuesday.
He will play five innings for Clearwater on Saturday, seven innings Sunday and then possibly both games of a doubleheader on Monday. (Doubleheaders in the minor leagues are seven-inning games and the Phillies want Utley to play nine innings before bringing him back. It could be 14 instead.)
"After those three games," assistant GM Scott Proefrock said, "we'll reevaluate him."
In other words, as long as his thumb hasn't fallen off, he will be activated.
Proefrock said Utley, who only began swinging a bat Wednesday, isn't being rushed. Andrew Weiland, the hand specialist who performed the July 1 surgery on Utley, cleared Utley to hit Wednesday after he was satisfied with the healing in the right thumb.
The only timetable that has accelerated is Utley's baseball recovery.
"He felt comfortable after those three days to tell us, 'Let's go. I'm ready to play,'" Proefrock said. "He's been doing everything else. He's been taking ground balls and throwing as best he can. He's been doing his exercises. Everything else is ready. It's just a matter of him getting ready to hit."
Utley worked out at the Phillies' complex in Clearwater on Friday and told the team afterward he was ready to play in games. The team told him to sleep on it, making sure he felt the same way Saturday morning. He did.
If Utley plays Tuesday, he will return nearly two weeks ahead of the original prognosis.
"Nothing is a surprise with regards to his ability to recuperate," Proefrock said. "He wants to play. It's had to been killing him not to play. He's like a caged animal."
Utley is the Phillies. I dont even feel like I'm watching a real Phils game when he's not there. Surprisingly, I feel the same way when Chooch (of all players) isn't in the lineup.— jamesiri- DOBBS - most defintrely! He is not a major league player!— ol duke
- I cannot wait for him to be back in the line-up. No matter what the rest of baseball says, HE is the face of the franchise, not Howard or Rollins. I'm ready to have him back and Dobbs gone. @jamesiri- I agree about Chooch. He's just been so amazing— phillygirl17
- They should probably just release Dobbs when the call up Utley, but I don't know how much salary they have to eat.— joeyc444
- They should probably just release Dobbs when the call up Utley, but I don't know how much salary they have to eat.— joeyc444
- One day after being one hit this is terrific news for the Phils. Both Utley and Howard should be back next week which would make the lineup whole again. Just need to get timing back at the plate. Easier said than done. Keep those well pitched games coming Doc, Cole and Roy. Pick it up Joe and Kyle. We'll probably have to win some low scoring games for a while.— Rick Wise Guy
- Come Tuesday you DL Ross Gload and unfortunately you send Brown down. They'll both be back when rosters expand to 40 on 9/1 and would be playoff eligible— Hector Gonzales
Great news!— wylies99- Dominic Brown is not a pinch hitter. He needs to play. Victorino is back and up to his old anemic self. The Phillies have a difficult issue, but I'm not so sure Victorino is the answer here. They looked pretty good with Wert in center and a platoon in right with Dominic.— Bob1
Comment removed.
Brown should only go back down till the Iron Pigs season is done. Then he should be of our top two lefties off the bench (him or Gload) even in the playoffs. Next year, he's full time with the big boys. And as much as I am happy about Utley, we need the big man back more. He may not be the face that everyone wants for our franchise but he is the one that drives in all the runs.- Dobbs! Is there any question?— HTBNM#
- Bill, you've seen how many times Victorino gets picked off and how many bone-headed base-running plays he makes right? Like trying to run from second to third when the ball is hit in front of you and yr the only person on base or it's men on 2nd and 3rd. I've seen him do it 3 or 4 times this years and that's base-running 101: if yr on second you don't move on a ball hit in front of you until yr 100% sure the SS can't make a play on it.— MattKnife
- MattKnife, I couldn't have said that better— Hector Gonzales
- THIS SHOULD BE THE LEAD STORY ON PHILLY.COM !!
