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Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Chase Utley to Rehab at Coca-Cola Park Today

August 2, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release


Phillies 2B Chase Utley - kept out of the lineup since June 23 due to right ankle inflammation -- is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment when the IronPigs host the Norfolk Tides at Coca-Cola Park today at 1:35 p.m. Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network is the exclusive sponsor of all Major League rehabilitation appearances at Coca-Cola Park.

Utley, 36, was hitting .179 with four homers and 25 RBIs in 65 games prior to being shut down because of the injury. Utley's only other rehab assignment with the IronPigs was a memorable one as he homered and went 2-for-5 in a 10-3 rout of the Rochester Red Wings on June 26, 2012.

Utley is in the final year of a two-year contract extension with three club/vesting options for 2016, 2017 and 2018. Last year, Utley was named a National League All-Star for the sixth time in his career and led all NL second baseman in games (147), doubles (35), RBI (77), extra-base hits (52), walks (52) and times on base (222) while ranking second in triples (6), total bases (237) and at-bats (578).

One of the most distinguished and well-regarded players in Phillies history, Utley has been among baseball's most productive second basemen throughout his playing career and entered the season ranked near the top of various offensive categories among his second base peers since 2005, including runs scored (1st, 868), home runs (2nd, 209), and hits (2nd, 1446).

During his first full season in the Majors in 2005, Utley set a Phillies record for RBI in a season (105) and tied the record for home runs (28) by a second baseman. A season later, he became just the 15th player in Major League history with a .300 average, 200 hits, 30 homers, 100 RBIs, 40 doubles and 130 runs scored in one season.

In 2007, Utley helped guide the Phillies to the post-season for the first time since 1993, finished 8th in the NL in MVP voting, and led all 2nd basemen in RBIs (103), slugging percentage (.571) and on-base percentage (.413).

During Philadelphia's magical 2008 campaign that ultimately finished with just the second World Series title in franchise history, Utley continued his torrid production, reaching 100-plus RBIs for the fourth consecutive season and in the process became just the third 2nd basemen in baseball history to accomplish the feat.

While the Phillies were denied back-to-back World Series titles in a six-game defeat at the hands of the Yankees in 2009, Utley had a memorable post-season that included five home runs in the World Series, matching Reggie Jackson's Fall Classic mark.

Utley was originally drafted the Phillies with the 15th overall pick in the 2000 draft and quickly ascended through the Minor League ranks, debuting in the Major Leagues in 2003.

Utley's only other appearance at Coca-Cola Park outside of his 2012 brief rehab stint was during an exhibition game between the Phillies and IronPigs on March 30, 2008. He went 0-for-1 with a walk in a Phillies 5-3 victory.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network is a nationally recognized rehabilitation leader, offering care for people with physical and cognitive disabilities and specializing in assistive and rehabilitation technology. Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network comprises a main operation based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a majority ownership of Good Shepherd Penn Partners based in Philadelphia. More than 60,000 people come to Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network each year for specialized programs in orthopedics, stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, pediatrics, amputation and more. Good Shepherd's Lehigh Valley operation provides rehabilitation services in 8 eastern Pennsylvania counties and operates more than 25 outpatient sites, 4 inpatient sites, a long-term acute care hospital, 2 long-term care homes for people with severe disabilities and an independent living facility. For more information, visit www.HomeRunRehab.com.

Great seats are still available for all upcoming games and can be purchased in-person at Coca-Cola Park (Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), by calling (610) 841-PIGS (7447) or online at ironpigsbaseball.com. Make sure to inquire about our brand-new seating area, "The Pig Pen", a revolutionary new seating area that puts fans directly in front of the players in the left field bullpens and just inches away from the on-field action.

Single-game tickets, mini-plan packages and group tickets for all IronPigs home games are on sale now and can be purchased at the Coca-Cola Park Ticket Office, online at www.ironpigsbaseball.com/tickets or by calling (610) 841-PIGS (7447).

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