The 2018 season marks Chase Utley’s 16th in the Majors and fourth with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since his being traded to the club in 2015, Utley has taken on a significant leadership role inside the clubhouse, mentoring the likes of Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager, among others.
Throughout his illustrious career, Utley has placed an emphasis on work ethic while never taking a play off on the field. Whether it’s hustling to take an extra base or picking up on certain opposing pitchers’ habits, the 39-year-old is always searching for that extra winning edge.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently lauded Utley’s impact on the organization and marveled at how mindful players are of not disappointing the veteran, Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY:
“That may have been the only good thing about us not winning it,’’ Dodgers president Andrew Friedman says. “We have Chase back. He has had the greatest impact in a clubhouse that I’ve ever seen. The number of guys that I hear say, “I don’t want to disappoint Chase,’ is something that is real.’’
Utley admitted that if the 2017 World Series swung in the Dodgers’ favor, he may have opted for retirement rather than re-signing with the Dodgers on a two-year contract just prior to the start of Spring Training.
In an offseason that lacked multi-year commitments, it speaks volumes about Utley’s character and value to the Dodgers that he received one. Though, part of the reasoning for the structure of his deal was to help Los Angeles stay beneath the luxury tax threshold.
Utley isn’t yet sure if he’ll play out the entirety of the contract, but he’ll once again prove key in the Dodgers’ quest of capturing their first World Series championship in 30 years.
