Phillies’ Chase Utley leaves Atlanta Braves game early due to precautionary measure – MLB News
The Philadelphia Phillies took off Chase Utley from their active roster on Wednesday, September 7 during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. The move came in the seventh inning when the second baseman reported headaches. The news came
from Phillies’ manager Charlie Manuel.
The infielder had earlier been hit on the back of his batting helmet in the sixth inning, by Braves reliever, Eric O’Flaherty. Trying to avoid the ball, the player was scratched on the back.
The team went on to lose Utley but they managed to knock out the Braves, 3-2. It has been reported that the infielder will wait two days before he goes through an ImPACT concussion test. The test results will be compared with baseline exams conducted during
Spring Training.
Depending on how well the two sheets compare, Utley will make his way back to the frontlines. Nevertheless, General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. believes a precautionary stance is reasonable.
"We think it's very, very mild, but we're going to be cautious with him, obviously," Ruben Amaro said. "You don't want to mess with the head."
The infielder will not be heading out to Milwaukee for a four-game series against the Brewers. Instead, he will be consulting a doctor. The decision came from the consent of a concussion specialist, team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti and head athletic trainer
Scott Sheridan.
"As I told Chase in there, we're not going to mess with the heart, and we're not going to mess with the head," Amaro Jr. said. "When you get a 90-plus mile an hour fastball off your melon, you have to be cautious about it regardless what kind of gear you're
wearing."
The star player will most likely be replaced by Jimmy Rollins, as he has his own injuries to deal with. The player has a strained right groin and the club is not too keen on utilising him in the line-up, as much as Utley. Pete Orr might take second base
duties in Milwaukee and that could cover the loss of Utley for a period of time.
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