To add a veteran presence to the team and depth to their infield, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired infielder Chase Utley from the Philadelphia Phillies last August. Utley underperformed during his time with the Dodgers, so there was uncertainty to whether he would return.
To some surprise, the Dodgers re-signed Utley to a one year deal worth $7 million during the offseason. While Utley did not put up eye-popping numbers in his time with the Phillies and Dodgers last season, he’s gotten off to a hot start in 2016 as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter and primary second baseman.
Through 14 games, the 37 year old is batting .302/.373/.415 with four doubles, one triple, three RBIs and one stolen base. Since the Dodgers acquired Utley last August, the veteran has received nothing but praise from his teammates for his hard style of play.
Among them were A.J. Ellis and Justin Turner, who commended the veteran for the way he plays the game. Utley received more praise on Thursday, this time with lefty ace Clayton Kershaw the latest to share his approval of the veteran infielder.
In Thursday’s 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves, Utley made a diving play on a ground ball to his right and promptly tossed the ball to Corey Seager at short to start an inning-ending double play.
Kershaw, who took the no-decision in the win, had high praise for Utley after the game, via Andy McCullough of the LA Times:
“If I ever have a son,” Kershaw said, “I’m going to tell him, ‘Watch the way that Chase plays the game. That’s the way you want to play the game.'”
While Dodgers players, manager Dave Roberts and members of the front office have lauded Utley’s aggression, some have taken exception to it. In Game 2 of the 2015 National League Division Series against the New York Mets, Utley slid hard into shortstop Ruben Tejeda at second base in effort to break up a double play attempt.
Tejeda suffered a broken leg on the play, was carted off the field and had his season come to an abrupt end. Utley was served a two-game suspension for the slide, which he appealed at the time, and the punishment was later dropped.
Major League Baseball did instill new rules for sliding into second base in wake of Utley’s aggressive play. Known as the ‘Chase Utley Rule’ around the league, runners sliding into second base to break up a double play must make a “bona fide attempt to reach and remain on the base.”
Runners can still make contact with the infielder but may not raise their legs above the fielder’s knee or throw their upper body or arm at the fielder. Utley was involved in another disputed play on Opening Day in which he appeared to try to make contact with San Diego Padres catcher Derek Norris on a play at the plate.
Nothing came of it, other than Utley being tagged out on his attempt to score from first base.
