Tendinitis found in Philadelphia Phillies’ Chase Utley's right knee after MRI result – MLB News
It looks like Philadelphia Phillies’ Chase Utley has tendinitis in his right knee, which was identified during a recent MRI.
Although tendinitis can be painful, Utley commented that he had experienced this type of condition before and that it is not at that level where he would be forced out of action. Currently, the Phillies want Utley to take a few games off from the spring
session and allow for some rest to his knee.
The Phillies might start to get a little worried as Utley is one of their star players with enormous talent. His fitness is crucial to the team as they are just about the start the regular season. The team will be looking at Utley to be at his peak performance
at the beginning of the season.
Phillies’ general manager Ruben Amaro was not taking any chances and went ahead with Utley getting an MRI on his knee. Amaro said, "It was bothering him enough and bothering me enough. [The tendinitis] causes some soreness, and rather than really push him
early here, we're going to kind of take it easy on him. If he continues to aggravate it, it could get more painful."
The decision for Utley to get possible surgery on his right knee to deal with this injury has not been completely ruled out. However it all depends on the doctors, trainers and Utley on the extent of the pain in his knee.
Utley will be looking to play in the Opening Day game on April 1 against the Houston Astros. However, this has not yet been decided by team, as they are taking a cautious approach to his injury.
Amaro has ordered Utley to sit out a few games during Spring Training and rest his knee. The general manager said, "We just don't want it to get any worse. There's no reason for us to push him now and have it be a problem in May, June, July, August. So we're
going to take it easy on him."
It seems that surgery is the last thing that the team and Utley will want this early in the season. The extended rehabilitation and fitness regiment can take a long time and the Phillies could possibly suffer in Utley’s absence.
The team will carefully monitor Utley over the next few days to check for a reduction in the swelling in his knee. If the injury is not serious then he will be allowed to comeback in the team during the spring session and take his place in the rotation.
It will be interesting to see what type of impact the injury to Utley will have on the Phillies during the spring session and quite possibly into the regular season as well.
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