Chase Utley is all set to appear in extended Spring Training - MLB Update
The Philadelphia Phillies’ second baseman Chase Utley takes rehabilitation process to another level. Appearance in extended Spring Training games is an indication of how far he has come from his left knee injury.
He has been sidelined from the season due to the injury. However, his existence in the line-up means a lot to the overall prospects of the Phillies’ offence. For the same reason, the management is looking forward to an immediate return by him.
Since the beginning of 2012 regular season, Utley has been in the process of recovery. However, announcement that he will make line-up in rehab games is a great development. It marks an imminence of comeback to the season.
When it was asked from Utley as to when exactly he will show-up, he was reluctant to reveal any time-line. Despite admitting the great improvements on his left knee, it will take some time before he can be definite about the timing, he maintained.
At the back of .290 career batting average and 188 home-runs, the fact the Phillies have missed him so much in the season is understandable. With as bad a performance as the Phillies have put up so far in the season, only if their offence had stepped up,
current poor standing on National League East Division table will have been far different.
Utley talked about his health. He said earlier it was due to volatility in feelings, as he was unable to make the timely comeback. The fact every day is turning out to be a better one for health, he has a reason to believe that a return to complete fitness
is not far, he explained.
“[I’m] just trying to feel comfortable on a daily basis,” he said. “There were times when I felt good one day and then didn’t feel so good. Right now I’m feeling good on a daily basis so I’m headed down to Clearwater to get some at-bats. I’ll start out by
DH-ing and I’ll be able to see some pitches and get my timing down and when the time is right, I’ll get out on the field and work there.”
For as long as Utley remains out, the miseries of the Phillies’ offence are likely to stay. They will hope, their injured players come back soon and give their expedition a positive turn.
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