Chase Utley Injury: Phillies Star Returns From Knee Injury

Good news, then:

In 10 minor-league rehab games, Utley did worse than that, actually, hitting .189/.279/.351 between A-ball and Triple-A. But he’s still Chase Utley, and it’s hard to see how he couldn’t help. Even if he stands on one leg in the batter’s box like a sleeping flamingo, he is probably still the best hitter the Phillies have in the infield.

Utley has not hit particularly well in his 20-day stint in the minor leagues. His rehab assignment ends July 1, and it appears Phillies manager Charlie Manuel wants Utley back with the club as soon as possible.

Jim Salisbury has more at CSNPhilly.com:

“Going well”, one presumes, is to have Utley be able to play defense and run without having his knee troubles recur. Since he’s been able to play every day, that appears to be what’s happening.

Utley could spend up to 20 days in a rehab assignment — currently, he’s playing at Class-A Clearwater — but it would appear that manager Charlie Manuel would like to have the former All-Star back as soon as possible. The Phillies, racked with injuries all season, currently stand eight games out of first place in the NL East, but at just four games under .500, could still get back in the race.

There was no immediate word on when he’ll play in the field for the first time at second base or what his schedule will be beyond tonight.

We do know, however, that he will not be playing for Clearwater Friday, Saturday or Sunday because the Florida State League is shut down for its All-Star break.

Utley will remain in Clearwater during that time and play in simulated games, according to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.For Utley’s sake, here’s hoping he gets a hit or two soon. He doesn’t deserve the boos.

Lest we forget, it wasn’t really so long ago that Chase Utley played really well in the major leagues.

But the same sort of knee and hip injuries that cost him a big chunk of 2011 have cost him a bigger chunk of 2012. But now, finally, there’s this:

And now he is going to play! Although, not in an actual league game anywhere:

It’s getting kind of late for extended spring training. Many of the players there will be off to short-season leagues soon. But Chase Utley plugs on, working his way back to the Phillies. Given this time frame, it could still be some time before Utley goes on a minor-league rehab assignment, and even longer before we see him with the major-league Phillies.

For the first time since rejoining the team May 5, Chase Utley fielded ground balls during batting practice. He moved side-to-side and at full speed for the duration of practice.

As for Utley? Maybe the best way to explain it is with the teaser text that Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer sent out in a tweet to promote an update on Utley’s progress:

There has been an air of mystery about Utley’s injury. It hasn’t been as simple as “knee contusion - 15 days” -- Utley will be back when his knees can handle it. From Matt Gelb:

“I’m not looking at any surgery,” Utley said. “I’m not looking at any type of injections. I’m looking at a daily routine that consists of manual therapy, strength training, mobilization of the joints.“If you want to see some video of the interview ...

Utley flew to Arizona last week to visit a knee specialist, who developed a rehabilitation plan that did not involve surgery. When asked if he could have been ready for Opening Day if he had made the trip to Arizona earlier, Utley replied that he felt “pretty good coming into camp,” so the extent of the knee pain seems to have surprised everyone.