On Friday, Los Angeles Dodgers veteran Utley said he will retire at the end of the season.
The 39-year-old and six-time MLB All-Star is excited to start being a full-time dad.
“It is a difficult decision, but it’s one that I’m comfortable with,” he said.
The announcement is well-timed, coming 10 days before the Dodgers visit Philadelphia for what now figures to be a three-day celebration of a Phillies great.
Utley was at his peak from 2005-10 as a core member of the Phillies team that reached back-to-back World Series, winning the title in 2008.
He has been to the playoffs eight times in his 16-year career.
While injuries eventually cut into his playing time and diminished his effectiveness, Utley has been a key clubhouse presence for the Dodgers since arriving in an August waiver deal in 2015.
Thursday’s 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres was emblematic of his contributions, as Utley was hit by a pitch for the 201st time in his career — the most among active players and eighth-most all-time — to load the bases and help spark a three-run inning for the Dodgers.
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