Chase Utley Injury: Phillies 2B Free Of Concussion Symptoms

Chase Utley reports that he is symptom free and has been cleared to return to exercise following a concussion sustained in the final game of the Braves series. Utley was hit in the head by a pitch from Eric O’Flaherty and was soon pulled from the game when admitted that he was feeling a little “foggy.” He did not travel with the team to Milwaukee, instead staying in Philadelphia for a number of concussion tests.

The team says they plan to be cautious with him, but also say that his progress has been very positive. He is not expected to rejoin the team when they travel to Houston, but then again… what’s the rush? The Phils have won three straight against the 2nd and 3rd best teams in the NL without him and have an all but insurmountable lead in the division. A few extra days off for Chase as we approach the playoffs isn’t going to hurt anyone.

Chase Utley Injury: Utley To Undergo Concussion Tests After Hit To The Head

Chase Utley will reportedly miss the next couple days after being hit with a pitch in the back of the head in the sixth inning of tonight’s victory over the Braves. He would stay in the game for another inning after the hit, but was lifted after complaining of headaches. Multiple reporters have said that Utley did not board the team flight to Milwaukee and will miss the next couple days as he undergoes tests for a concussion.

“The way to describe it is that he didn’t really feel 100 percent after getting hit,” Phillies GM Ruben Amaro said after the game. “He felt OK right afterward. Then he started feeling a little fuzzy. And so we took the precaution to get him out of the game.”

“He’s going to be out a couple of days at least,” Amaro added, “we think this is very, very mild, but we are going to be very cautious with him, obviously.”

In the meantime, the Phillies will recall Jimmy Rollins from the DL, but he will reportedly only be used as an emergency infielder for as long as Utley is out.