Chase Utley to Undergo Hip Surgery; Likely to Miss Opening Day

Months of speculation about Chase Utley’s health came to an end on Thursday. The Phillies announced that the second baseman will need surgery on his right hip that could keep him sidelined until the first week of June.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a conference call that the organization expects Utley to be "fairly close to ready, if not ready, by Opening Day.”

Amaro added that little can be projected until after the surgery, which is scheduled for next week.

Since the World Series ended, Utley has undergone several diagnostic tests on his hip. Phillies team physician Michael Ciccotti, of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Rothman Institute, and Dr. Bryan Kelly, of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, recommended surgery.

The surgery will repair any bone or cartilage damage Utley may have. A full recovery may take six months, but that will depend on the extent of the damage. Regardless, Utley should be able to resume baseball activities in three to four months.

Utley was bothered by the hip for much of last season but never disclosed specifics or spoke to reporters about it. He finished the season with a .292 average and led all second basemen with 33 home runs and 104 RBIs. Of those 33 home runs, he hit just 15 from June onward and struggled through the postseason where he hit just .220 with a pair of home runs.

"I don't know if the injury itself had much to do with his second-half problems," Amaro said. "Could it have weighed on him mentally? Possibly. But there are a lot of factors here."

Phillies trainer Scott Sheridan said Thursday that the club was able to manage Utley’s discomfort during the regular season. He added that Utley reported symptoms of a hip problem as early as spring training, and that it became progressively worse as the year went on.

"He's a team player and a very tough guy, no question," Amaro said. "But the reality is, he's not a dummy. He's going to make the decision that's most appropriate for the club. If he was unable to perform, he would not have gone on the field."

As for replacing Utley, Amaro said the surgery will not impact their offseason plans.  Possible interim replacements include utility man Eric Bruntlett and highly regarded shortstop prospect Jason Donald, who spent time at second and third in the Arizona Fall League.

"You don't necessarily replace an Utley," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "At the same time, our feeling is he's going to be fairly close to ready, if not ready, by Opening Day. A lot depends on how the surgery goes, how the rehab goes. This isn't an exact science, but we fully expect to have Chase Utley with us for the bulk of the season."

(Patrick Gordon is a freelance sports writer and Managing Editor of the Philadelphia Baseball Review which can be found at www.PhiladelphiaBaseballReview.com)