Chase Utley

Chase Utley
File:Chaseutley.JPG
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 26
Second base
Bats: Left Throws: Right
debut
April 4, 2003, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Career statistics (through August 2, 2006)
Batting average	.293
RBI	252
Home runs	64
Stats at Baseball Reference

Chase Cameron Utley (born December 17, 1978 in Pasadena, California) is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, who has emerged as one of the best players in Major League Baseball. Utley attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School and was a standout second baseman for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 2000 he was named the Outstanding Player of the NCAA Regional held in Oklahoma City and was the Phillies' 1st selection (15th overall) in the June draft. He is a home-grown product of the Phillies' farm system, that is having played with the Batavia Muckdogs (A-short season) in 2000, the Clearwater Phillies (A, now Clearwater Threshers) in 2001, and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (AAA) in 2002-3. He made his major league debut in April of 2003, a single pinch at-bat before being returned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the 2003 season.

While in the minor leagues, Utley spent most of his time playing at his natural position, second base; however, the Phillies organization tried to convert him to a third baseman in order to bring him through the system faster. He played most of the 2002 season at third base, but returned to second during 2003 spring training. Utley's first major league hit came during his first recall of 2003, in April. His first start came on the 24th and his first hit was a grand slam. He was recalled by the Phillies again in August of 2003, replacing INF Placido Polanco at second base (Polanco was moved to third to compensate for the loss of 3B David Bell to the disabled list). Utley recorded the final at-bat at Veterans Stadium, grounding into a game ending Double Play on September 28, 2003.

Since coming to the Major Leagues as a permanent fixture on the Phillies roster, Utley has established himself as a versatile player. During interleague play, Utley has at times played stints at first base to give former teammate Jim Thome and current first baseman Ryan Howard a rest from fielding and allow them to play at the designated hitter spot. Utley platooned with Placido Polanco at second base during the beginning of the 2005 season. It eventually became clear that Utley was the future full-time second baseman for the Phillies and in June of 2005, the Phillies traded Polanco to the Detroit Tigers for RP Ugueth Urbina and INF Ramón Martínez. Since beginning to play second base as a full-time starter, Utley has established himself as one of the best hitting second basemen in the National League. Utley also established his speed, stealing 16 bases in the 2005 season. His fielding has also greatly improved, and the combination of SS Jimmy Rollins and Utley is considered to be one of the best middle infields in the National League. Because of his youth and strong personality, Utley is considered by many fans to be one of the future leaders of the team, along with Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins.

Utley was a member of Team USA in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, and was selected by the fans as the starting National League 2nd baseman for the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Utley had a 35-game hitting streak during the 2006 season. It was the second-longest streak in Phillies history, behind only teammate Jimmy Rollins, who hit in 38 straight games between 2005 and 2006 (36 games in 2005 and two in 2006). Utley tied Luis Castillo, who had a 35-game hitting streak in 2002, for the longest hitting streak by a second baseman. The streak was the longest for a purely left-handed hitter since Tommy Holmes' 37-game streak in 1945. As a result, he was named the National League Player of the Month for July 2006.

External links

• ESPN - profile and daily updates
• Baseball Reference - career statistics and analysis

he is now engaged to Jen Cooper