Ryan Howard and Chase Utley extended spring training

The Philadelphia Phillies offense- their whole team, in fact- has been floundering without the presence of their two offensive stars, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, who have been fixtures on this team for quite some time. Both players have been injured for the season thus far, and they are expected to come back next month in July.

Both Ryan Howard and Chase Utley were teammates in an extended spring training game, with Howard going 2-4 with two walks and Utley 2-5 with a homer, a double, and a walk. Both of them were designated hitters.

Howard cannot run on the bases or do any fielding, but the positive performance is a good step forward for him as he recovers from his ruptured achilles that has dearly cost the Phillies and robbed them of easily their best power hitter. Howard will probably not be back before the All-Star break, but he will probably return a bit after. I don’t think he’ll be out before August.

Chase Utley is also a ways away from returning from a knee injury, and the second baseman will be hitting in against live pitching and playing in simulated games with a break in extended spring training games up ahead. Utley will not go on a rehab assignment until mid-June.

As with most knee injuries, it’s all about read-and-react for Utley and the Phillies. They have to see what Utley can handle and judge their next move from there. The Phils are exercising their due caution, and it is extremely difficult to tell when he will be back; it will most likely be sometime next month. Expect him to return before Ryan Howard.

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