When the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Chase Utley in August 2015, there was a hope he’d provide a veteran presence and serve as a difference maker for the club in the postseason. Utley has since remained with the organization by agreeing to a new contract in each of the past three offseasons.
He signed two one-year contracts, then returned on a two-year deal this past February. Utley’s contract was the only multi-year deal the Dodgers doled out this past winter, but he won’t see out the lifetime of the deal.
On Friday, Utley announced his intention to retire at the conclusion of the 2018 season. While his role on the field has reduced, the 39-year-old said the decision stemmed from wanting to spend more time with his family.
Utley is 2-for-2 with a run scored as a pinch-hitter since making his announcement. It’s a role he’s expected to fill for the remainder of the year, as the Dodgers rely on Logan Forsythe and Max Muncy to play second base.
The six-time All-Star has been praised for accepting a reduced role, and on Saturday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained what he believes has allowed Utley to succeed as a pinch-hitter, via ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez:
“I think one thing is the buy-in and understanding his role. The other part of it is just the preparation. Every time he steps in the box, he’s prepared to hit, and he knows how to approach that particular pitcher.”
Utley hit for J.T. Chargois when he led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to right field. He then alertly read a fly ball off Yasmani Grandal’s bat that carried over Justin Upton’s head in left field.
Utley raced around the bases and slid into home plate, just under Martin Maldonado’s tag, scoring the tying run. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, it was all for naught as they fell in 10 innings.
Nonetheless, Utley improved to 11-for-24 (.458 batting average) as a pinch-hitter this season. He had nine hits in 33 at-bats as a pinch-hitter in 2017.
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