Phillies 2B Utley could miss beginning of season

Nov 20, 2008 - 5:46 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The reigning World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies could be without one of their key players to start next season.

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will undergo surgery on his troublesome right hip next week, the team announced Thursday.

Since the end of the World Series, Utley, 29, has had several diagnostic studies in regards to right hip symptoms that he had during the 2008 season.

The surgery for Utley will be an arthroscopic evaluation with treatment of any labral or bone injury. The recovery will allow for the initiation of baseball activities between three and four months, however, the total recovery time may require four to six months.

A six-month recovery time would last until late May 2009, and Utley could miss at least the first full month of the season.

Last season, Utley batted .292 with 33 home runs and 104 RBI in 159 regular season games.

The Phillies also announced that third baseman Pedro Feliz will have low back surgery on Thursday.

Feliz, 33, was on the disabled list during the 2008 season for 26 days in relation to a low back injury and had intermittent symptoms at the end of the season that deemed off-season follow-up necessary.

Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles will perform the surgery, which is scheduled to be a lumbar discectomy.

After surgery, Feliz will complete an 8-to-12 week rehabilitation program.