A youth baseball player from Mobile, Alabama, named Chase Utley plays second base, bats left-handed and throws right-handed, matching the style of former Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley.[1]

The Phillies' Chase Utley played 16 Major League Baseball seasons from 2003 to 2018, spending his first 12 full seasons with Philadelphia before six with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series.[2][3] Utley was elected to the Phillies' Wall of Fame in March 2024, with his induction ceremony held on August 13, 2024.[4]

The younger Chase Utley was born in August 2009, roughly 10 months after Philadelphia's World Series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on October 29, 2008.[1][3]

His parents, Brian and Amanda Utley, discussed the naming decision in interviews. Brian, a Kansas City Royals fan, was aware of the Phillies player and liked how the name sounded with their surname. Amanda suggested "Chase" independently but initially hesitated upon learning of the coincidence before warming to it after positive reports on Utley's character.[1]

The elder Utley told Fox News Digital he has encountered children and pets named after him but no one with his full name until now. He noted the uniqueness, especially given the shared position.[1]

The younger Utley, who also plays shortstop and pitches right-handed according to Perfect Game, a major youth baseball scouting service, credits his father for developing his skills. Perfect Game scouting vice president Jered Goodwin described him as athletic and versatile, projecting him toward Division I college baseball.[1][5]

The family has experienced confusion at tournaments, with umpires and fans mistaking Brian Utley for the retired player. The younger Utley said he finds it "super cool" to share the name with a figure he admires. The two have not met but plan an introduction soon, possibly via video call followed by an in-person meeting.[1]

Sources

1. Fox News Digital, "Playing second base, hitting lefty, throwing righty — it’s just what people who are named Chase Utley do", February 20, 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/baseball-player-chase-utley-phillies-legend-alabama
2. Baseball-Reference.com, "Chase Utley", accessed October 2024, https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/utleych01.shtml
3. MLB.com Phillies, "2008 World Series", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/phillies/history/world-series/2008
4. MLB.com Phillies, "Phillies elect Chase Utley to Wall of Fame", March 28, 2024, https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-elect-chase-utley-to-wall-of-fame
5. Perfect Game, "About Perfect Game", accessed October 2024, https://www.perfectgame.org/about/Default.aspx