Chase Utley Takes An Unexpected Role With the Dodgers
It has long been expected that Chase Utley was going to take on some sort of role, other than playing, with the Dodgers. It now looks as though that role has been officially defined as Alanna Rizzo made the announcement on Wednesday.
I can finally announce, that Chase Utley is joining our @SportsNetLA broadcast crew this season, for a select number of games. Welcome to the club, Chase!
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) March 20, 2019
In a very surprising move, it looks like the Silver Fox will be making the move to television. He’ll join the likes of Nomar Garciaparra and Jerry Hairston Jr as former players who took broadcast/analyst roles with SportsNet LA. Utley has been a fan favorite since he showed up in Los Angeles, and I am sure fans are ecstatic about the move.
Chase came to Los Angeles via trade in the 2015 season and played all the way through 2018 before announcing his retirement from baseball. He hit a combined 236 across his 2.5 seasons with Los Angeles, but he didn’t play a whole lot in their three playoff years. Utley’s value was to the team was through his leadership and character, as younger players tried to be around him in the clubhouse and on the field every day.
Utley will take on a studio analyst role similar to what Hairston and Nomar do. We at Dodgers Nation are all very excited to see him back in the organization. Welcome home again, Chase.
Good for you Chase! I’ve always enjoyed your practice swings. As quiet as he’s always seemed, broadcasting doesn’t seem to be a natural fit, but let’s see what he brings. I always assumed he’d excel as a bench coach, with greater expectations down the line. But hey, if Doc can make the move directly into managing, anything is possible. ITFDB!! GO BLUE!!
I really hope we move Nomar and Chase into front office or player development roles. Hopefully we do it before other teams jump at it
So happy he needs to be with the club they have always welcomed him and his experience,
I thought he would be a “Special Advisor” type guy, whispering sweet nothings in Friedman’s ear. Maybe he still will do that, but a more public role is kind of surprising.