Phillies legendary second baseman Chase Utley is enjoying his current role as an overseas ambassador for MLB.
He has lived in London since 2022, making appearances at events and growing the game he once dominated. It’s a role that’s taken a famously stoic Utley out of his comfort zone.
He flew across the pond this week to promote the upcoming Phillies-Mets series in June at London Stadium.
“It’s going to be a little different than a regular baseball game,” Utley said about the London Series in the home dugout on Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. “It’s kind of a playoff atmosphere.”
The role entails some silliness. Utley is scheduled to catch a ceremonial first pitch on Thursday from a former rugby and NFL football player who goes by the name “Apollo” on the popular UK television show “Gladiators.”
Utley will also take some real swings for the first time in years as part of a Home Run Derby against former Met Daniel Murphy at Trafalgar Square on June 7.
“For those of you that are in town and want to catch a laugh,” Utley joked. He’ll start swinging a bat next week to see if he’s still any good.
Utley, who hung up his cleats for good after the 2018 season, began his life after baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers front office and as a broadcaster. Eventually, he could get back into a more serious role in the game.
“Anything is possible, to be honest,” Utley said. “I love the game. I’d like to stay involved. The one thing that I want is to make my own schedule, which I think I’ve earned that right. To stay involved at the major league level, it’s something that I’m interested in.”
A father of two boys aged 12 and 9, Utley, once it’s time to move on from his job in the UK, would prefer something that offers a bit more flexibility. That means he’s unlikely to end up on a major league coaching staff anytime soon.
Could managing be in his future? Utley, who was playfully called the “Silver Fox,” was a baseball father figure in the young Dodgers clubhouse at the end of his career. He was a conduit to manager Dave Roberts and was said to have the “best baseball IQ ever.”
He has the skillset to be an intriguing candidate for any team, but according to him, now is not the right time.
“To be good at it, it consumes a lot of your time,” Utley said. “Raising two young boys, I’m not quite ready for [managing].
“Let’s talk in like, 10 years.”
