Dodgers' Chase Utley Announces His Retirement At End of Season
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley announced that he will retire at the end of this season.
Utley made the announcement at a press conference on Friday at Dodgers Stadium.
"I can go into the last chapter of my baseball career with enthusiam, excitement, but most of all a clear mind," Utley said.
This year marks Utley's 16th season in the major leagues.
The infielder, 39, has appeared in only 57 games this season, hitting .231 with one home run and 14 RBI. Utley has spent time on the disabled list with a sprained thumb. He signed a two-year deal with Los Angeles last offseason.
A six-time All-Star, Utley played 13 of his seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and helped them win a World Series title in 2008. The Dodgers will visit the Phillies for a three-game series July 23 to 25. Fellow 2008 World Series champions Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino also announced their retirements this season.
Utley was a career .276 hitter with 259 home runs and 1,025 RBI.
Utley had an incredible knack of getting on base, especially with getting hit by a pitch. He led the National League in that category three times. This season, Utley was hit by a pitch for the 201st time in his career, becoming only the eighth player all-time to be hit by 200 career pitches.
