8 Keys to Phillies Second Baseman Chase Utley Staying Healthy This Season

Playing a grueling game like baseball at the professional level is no walk in the park. Playing baseball on a pair of chronically degenerating knees is something that would not be feasible for most athletes, but Chase Utley isn’t like most athletes. 

For the last decade, the former first-round pick out of UCLA has been one of most integral parts of this Philadelphia Phillies team, captivating fans and players alike. When he isn’t in the lineup, this is a different team, and they’re certainly not better without him. 

Utley, who has suffered from numerous injuries throughout his career, has had the most trouble with his knees, suffering from a wide array of conditions including cartilage damage, bone inflammation, patellar tendinitis and chondromalacia. 

For the first time since 2010, the Phillies second baseman is participating in the Grapefruit League, a good sign that he’ll be prepared for the regular season, and this is a club that definitely needs him in the lineup. 

But how does a guy like Utley, who has had a smorgasbord of knee injuries, stay on the field for an entire season? The following slideshow will try to answer that question by taking a look at all of the possibilities. 

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