Phils' Utley undergoes surgery
Sports Network | November 25, 2008
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley underwent hip surgery on Monday and the club said the procedure went as expected.
Utley had an arthroscopic debridement of his labrum performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The Phillies said the findings were consistent with the diagnostic studies performed prior to the surgery.
It is still anticipated that Utley will have a recovery period of four to six months, meaning he could be sidelined through May of the 2009 season.
The 29-year-old All-Star was rumored to have had problems with the hip most of the 2008 season, as his offensive numbers dipped considerably after the All- Star break. Utley still finished with a .292 batting average, a career-high 33 home runs and 104 runs batted in.
After a poor performance at the plate early in the playoffs for the Phillies, Utley rebounded to hit .353 with a homer and three RBI in Philadelphia's five- game win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. He only batted .167 in the World Series, but hit a two-run homer in the first inning of Philadelphia's Game 1 win over Tampa Bay. The Phillies went on to defeat the Rays in five games for their first World Series title since 1980.
