The Official Site of Chase Utley

Mon, Aug 16th 2010, 09:20

Utley primed to return Tuesday

Chase Utley’s postoperative timetable continues to be ahead of schedule, and the all-star second baseman remains on track to rejoin the Phillies on Tuesday in Philadelphia.

Working his way back from a torn ligament in his right thumb, Utley played the second game of a rehabilitation assignment with the single-A Clearwater Threshers on Sunday, going 0 for 3 in a 6-0 loss to Lakeland.

He is scheduled to appear in both games of a doubleheader with the Threshers on Monday, playing the first seven-inning game at second base and the second game as a designated hitter. Utley said the plan is to fly back to Philadelphia after the nightcap.

“My thumb feels good,” Utley said. “It’s not bothering me at all. I don’t know what the plans will be after that. I’ll have to discuss that with [manager] Charlie [Manuel] and [general manager Ruben] Amaro and go from there.”

Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock, who was with the team in New York, said Sunday that the reports on Utley are positive. He would not definitively say that Utley would be activated Tuesday if all goes well. The second baseman will be reevaluated by team doctors then.

“He told us he felt great,” Proefrock said.

Manuel said “it’s a probability” that Utley will return Tuesday.

Typically a fast healer, Utley was expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks after surgery, according to doctors and the team’s athletic training staff. Instead, he could be back in the lineup this week, well ahead of his expected return date of about Aug. 26.

“I’m not that surprised that I’ve been able to come back so quickly,” said Utley, 31. “I’ve just been pretty fortunate that everything has gone well with my thumb so far.”

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