Chase Utley Beginning Official Rehab Stint

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:

The limit on a minor-league rehab assignment is 20 days, so if everything goes well, Utley will rejoin the big club and enter the lineup in early July, at the latest.

You can see why the Phillies might miss him.

Of course, with the Phillies now eight games out of first place and 5½ out of the second Wild Card, Utley’s return might be too late, whenever it happens.