When the Los Angeles Dodgers opened Spring Training this year, there were many questions about the roster, not the least of which was who would start at second base in 2016. Initially earmarked for Howie Kendrick, Chase Utley quickly took control of the position and has not looked back.
In a season that’s come with some disappointment and frustration, Utley’s play has been one of the biggest positives. This is two seasons after it appeared the Dodgers had the player who would finally bring long-term stability at second base.
Dee Gordon emerged in 2014, leading the Majors with 64 stolen bases and 12 triples. Gordon made his first National League All Star appearance that season and while he did slow down the stretch, he finished the year batting .289/.326/.378.
The speedster became the first Dodgers to lead the National League in stolen bases since Davey Lopes in 1976. Then, inexplicably, he was gone. Gordon proceeded to lead the NL last season in batting average and stolen bases, while winning his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award.
He became the first player in Major League Baseball history to win a Gold Glove, lead the Majors in stolen bases and win the batting title all in the same season. Until April 29, 2016, when Gordon was shockingly suspended for performance-enhancing drugs, the trade continued to sting.
Enter Utley. He was born in Pasadena, Calif., and raised in Long Beach. He played shortstop in high school, but was moved to second base once on campus at UCLA, and has since flourished.
He had an outstanding career with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2003 through mid-2015 where he was a six-time All Star and chosen by Sports Illustrated for Major League Baseball’s All-Decade Team for the 2000s.
In recent years, however, Utley was slowed by injuries and when he was traded to the Dodgers last August, it was believed that at 36 years old, his career was coming to an end.
CONTINUE READING: Utley turning back the clock
Appearing in 34 games for the Dodgers, Utley batted a weak .202. When the season ended, the team predictably declined to exercise their option for 2016.
Fans anxiously awaited a big move from the Dodgers during the offseason, but it never happened. Although it appeared Utley’s brief tenure with the Dodgers came to an end, he re-signed a one-year, $7 million contract in December.
At age 37, it was unrealistic to believe he could contribute much. The pundits were wrong. So far this season, appearing in 47 games and hitting in leadoff spot, he ranks second on the Dodgers with a .283 batting average and .376 on-base percentage, and fourth with a .428 slugging percentage.
As the Dodgers have collectively struggled at the plate, Utley has largely been the exception. He has done his job, consistently getting on base as the leadoff man and driving in key runs when he comes to the plate with runners in scoring position.
A prime example coming in the ninth inning against the New York Mets when Utley hit a three-run double to tie the game. The following night, after being the target of a Noah Syndergaard fastball, Utley hit two home runs, including a grand slam.
Utley brings an aggressive approach to the game especially when he is on base, something the Dodgers sorely need. It has come at a cost, with Utley now forever tied to his hard slide in Game 2 of the 2015 National League Division Series that fractured Ruben Tejada‘s leg.
Just as important as his on-field performance, Utley is an important mentor to the young players on the roster. He has forged a strong relationship with young shortstop Corey Seager, and there’s no denying Seager, who is expected to become the face of the franchise for many years, will greatly benefit from his association with Utley.
Despite his outstanding play this season, Utley unfortunately is not the long-term answer for the Dodgers at second base. He turns 38 in December and odds suggest he won’t return for another go-around in Los Angeles.
But while he is here, Utley will play hard, give it his all, and be a great example to the younger team members on what it takes to have a long and successful career in the Major Leagues. For a front office that’s faced plenty of criticism, the Dodgers’ decision to re-sign Utley can’t be understated.