Chase Utley Goes Under The Knife.

Only three days after being placed on the 15 day disabled list, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will now have surgery to repair a strained ligament on his right thumb.

It was originally thought that Utley may just need time to rest the thumb, which he injured in the recent Reds series, but after consulting with team doctors and an MRI, the decision for surgery was made.
 

The surgery will keep Utley out of the All-Star Game and may keep him away from the reigning NL Champions until early August.

This does not seem to affect the Phillies strategy heading into the trade deadline, but will make Wilson Valdez, for the meantime, the Phillies starting second baseman.

The surgery is scheduled for later today and will take place in New York City with hand specialist Dr. Andrew Weiland.

Chase is hitting .277, with 11 homers, and 37 RBI's, and he is the leading vote-getter at second base in National League All-Star voting.