For the first time in 2015, Chase Utley’s batting average has exceeded the .200 mark after a 3-4 performance in last night’s walk-off win against the Reds, raising his average to .207.
It’s been a long, grueling process, but the beloved second baseman has slowly shown signs of returning to his usual form at the plate.
Back on May 8, Utley’s batting average sat at .99 after finishing April with a .114 overall average. Since then, Utley has managed to raise his average .108 points over his last 22 games. Over that span, the 36-year-old has 25 hits in 73 a-bats, which is good for a .347 batting average.
Of his 25 hits, eight have been extra-base hits, including six doubles, one triple, and one home run.
In last night’s game, Utley showed why he’s one of the best hitters in the game. With the Reds employing the shift against him, Utley cleverly bunted for a base hit down the vacant third base line, a tactic that more left-handed hitters (I’m looking at you, Ryan Howard) should use. Utley added a single and a sixth-inning home run to give him his third three-hit game of the season.
Utley has looked much more comfortable at the plate, and for a Phillies team that is dead last in runs scored (162) and 28th in batting average (.238), seeing their best hitter actually hit has to be a sight for very sore eyes.
