Philadelphia Phillies: Looking Back at Draft Picks Since 2000
By Chuck Booth
“In the Year 2000 with the 15th pick in the draft, the Philadelphia Phillies select second baseman, Chase Utley!”
Who knew that Chase Utley would become a revered name in Philadelphia sports lore when the Phillies drafted him out of UCLA way back when. Yes, he is remembered for more than his “world champions, world f****** champions” speech after the 2008 World Series.
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Chase Utley is the classic “what could have been” player. Over a 12 year (and counting) MLB career split between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers Utley has played in over 1600 regular season games. During that time, he has amassed a slash line of .280/.364/.476.
If not for his bum knees we may be discussing if Chase Utley was a viable candidate for the Hall of Fame but due to his late start to his career and his injuries he won’t have the counting stats necessary for enshrinement in Cooperstown. Utley’s peak of dominance from his call up in () until () is Hall-worthy even if he doesn’t have the longevity.
Chase Utley is beloved by Phillies fans, especially when he kills the Mets like he did a few weeks ago when he hit a grand slam to seal a Dodgers victory. Utley could have been most team’s best draft pick in the past 15 years but as you’ll see a little later, the Phillies have had some good fortune in the past 15 years.
Next: 2001 brings Gavin Floyd to the Phillies