UNITED STATES—During a press conference on Friday, July 13, Chase Utley announced his retirement from baseball. Utley, Pasadena born, has been a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2015.
Utley was drafted to the Dodgers in 1997, but elected to go to UCLA instead. He was later drafted to the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round (15th pick) of the Amateur draft.
He made his MLB debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2003, where he spent the majority of his career, before being traded to the Dodgers organization.
Utley said, “The hair is going grey. There’s a lot of things letting me know it’s time. But the thing I’ve having the most difficulty with is being a part-time dad. So, that’s really the reason I’m shutting it down because I’m ready to be a full-time dad,” said Utley. Utley and his wife Jennifer have two children. Their older son Benjamin is 6 and their younger son Maxwell Chase is 3.
During his career, Utley made the All -tar team six times (2006-2010, 2014 and won the Silver Slugger (2006-2009) award four times. He also won the World Series Championship in 2008 with the Phillies.
Utley currently has a career batting average of .276 BA. He also has 259 home runs, 1025 RBIs, 1,874 hits, and 1100 runs. The second baseman will look to add to those totals as the season continues.
“They don’t call him “The Man” for no reason!! Been thinking about ways to word this and the best way to put it is that I consider myself blessed to have my career touched by one of the best players to ever play this game! The perfect example of professionalism! I’ve been incredibly lucky to get to know a side of the Silver Fox that not a lot of people have been fortunate enough to know! Anyways, that’s it for now cuz I can honestly go on forever! @chaseutley you still have three and a half more months of being “dad” so don’t even think that you’re getting rid of me just yet!! THANK YOU & I LOVE YOU!! #HallOfFamer,” wrote Utley’s teammate, Kike Hernandez on social media.
Written By Madison McKesson