PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 16: Former player Chase Utley takes the field for the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies will bring back some familiar faces as they look to make a deeper run toward the World Series next season.
The team re-signed Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto to bolster a batting order that will again include Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and several other returning position players as well. Meanwhile, the starting rotation will look virtually the same as last year, with the potential addition of top prospect Andrew Painter.
If that group is able to capture a championship, which would be the team’s first since 2008, the players will instantly cement themselves as franchise legends.
But as the current crop of Phillies stars look to do so, the biggest obstacle standing in their way is now getting some help from a former Phillies World Series champion.
Philadelphia Phillies Legend Chase Utley Takes New Role With Los Angeles Dodgers
Chase Utley, who played for the Phillies for 12 years and was a key figure during the team’s 2008 World Series title, has revealed that he will be working with the Los Angeles Dodgers as they look to capture a third straight championship.
“Right now, I’m happy with what we’re doing, which is spending some time with the Dodgers and the front office and their players, but also have some time for my family,” Utley explained when asked about the nature of his role with the team during an interview from the team’s Spring Training with “Dodger Talk.”
Utley is a native of Southern California and he served in a front office capacity as well as in a part-time television analyst role for the team after he retired from playing. But in 2022 he moved to Europe to work as an official Major League Baseball ambassador.
Now he has returned to his native state and has apparently resumed a role with the Dodgers, though he sent a vague five-word response when asked what exactly that will be.
“Trying to feel it out,” Utley said during “Dodger Talk.”
Philadelphia Phillies World Series Champion Praises Los Angeles Dodgers Brass As ‘The Best’
Utley was traded by the Phillies to the Dodgers as a player in 2015, marking one of the first transactions executed by president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
Now that he’s working for Friedman once again, Utley didn’t hesitate to anoint him as the best executive in the sport, notably excluding any mention of Phillies boss Dave Dombrowski.
“Andrew (Friedman) is the best out there, so to have the ability to learn, to continue to learn, to absorb, interact with the current big league guys (is great),” Utley said on “Dodger Talk.” “I’m just here to help.”
As his old team in Philadelphia looks to overcome the Dodgers en route to a National League pennant next year, though, they are probably hoping that Utley’s legendary presence won’t be of too much help for the defending champions.