Tue, Jun 12th 2012, 10:32
The Phillies have lost eight of nine games, but they were provided with some good news during Monday’s off-day: Chase Utley will officially begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Single A Clearwater.
Utley will DH.
It begins an official 20-day minor league rehab clock, meaning the latest Utley can return to the major leagues is July 2, which is also an off-day. The Phillies will play 19 games before then. As Jim Salisbury pointed out last week, it is “expected that both [Howard and Utley] will max-out their time or at least come close to doing so” once they begin their rehab clocks.
Utley hasn’t played in a game this season because of chronic knee soreness. He fielded ground balls for the first time on May 17 and traveled to Florida on June 3 to begin participating in extended spring training games.