Utley Leaves Phillies Camp, Unlikely For Opening Day

Philadelphia Phillies second basemen Chase Utley left camp today and will most likely start the season on the DL for the second straight year. Utley left camp to see a knee specialist about his tendinitis-stricken knees.

"I would think it's doubtful that [Utley] would be prepared to play second base for us opening day," said Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. "He hasn't been feeling all that great. He hasn't gotten to the point where he feels confident enough to get on the field without making it worse."

Utley is due back at camp on Thursday and Amaro indicated his treatment would consist mainly of stretching and alignment exercises, not a procedure. The Phillies have been generally silent on the 33-year-old Utley's status, but Amaro admitted, "He's got bad knees. He's got a cartilage issue. You can't grow cartilage. So it's partially tendinitis and partially a cartilage issue."

With Utley likely out to start the season, the Phillies might turn to 22-year-old rookie Freddy Galvis, who has a .613 OPS in the minors and has only played 33 games at triple-A. With Ryan Howard on the DL to start the season as well, the Phillies will turn to multiple internal options to fill out their infield. Check out the Phillies' complete organizational depth chart to get a full look at what the Phillies will do to replace their injured All-Stars.