INSIDE SCOOP: Remembering covering draft pick Chase Utley at his first Phillies press conference
I was at Veterans Stadium on July 28, 2000, when the club introduced him
Chase Utley speaks during his Wall of Fame induction ceremony at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, August 7, 2026. (Photo: Aaron Bracy)
By AARON BRACY
August 7, 2026
The Phillies inducted Chase Utley into the club’s Wall of Fame on Friday night. The ceremony was typically great from an organization which really does these things well.
Utley, not one who said much as a player, spoke longer than likely anyone expected and from the heart. It was truly a special evening for Phillies fans.
I was not at the ballpark on Friday night but watched from home. I covered many games of Utley’s career and always admired the way he played. He was always accommodating to the media but never seemed to enjoy that part of his job, which is fine. There was the personable Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, or Shane Victorino to fill up your notebook, as reporters say.
One of the cool things I remember is being a young reporter covering a midsummer Phillies game at Veterans Stadium when the club introduced a recent first-round draft pick named Chase Utley. I don’t think anyone had any idea that a future likely Hall of Famer was in front of us that July day.
Shortly after last night’s ceremony, I dug into the Trenton Times archives and pulled out the following from my story on July 29, 2000.
Here is what I reported:
UTLEY SIGNING: The Phillies introduced its first-round pick from last month’s amateur draft, Chase Utley, prior to last night’s game against Los Angeles.
Utley, the 15th overall pick, hit .345 with 52 home runs and 172 RBIs in 177 career games at UCLA. The second baseman received a signing bonus of $1,780,000 and will report to single-A Batavia Monday, announced Phillies director of scouting Mike Arbuckle.
Utley was pleased to get the signing process over, and is looking forward to playing baseball.
‘’This has been my lifelong dream,’‘ he said. ‘’I’m not to familiar with Philadelphia, or the Phillies, because I’m from California, but I’m very happy and excited to be here. I’m going to work as hard as I possibly can and see what happens. I’m going to try and get to the major leagues as fast as I can.’‘
One adjustment for Utley will be the transition to the wood bat from the aluminum one he used in college.
‘’It will definitely be an adjustment to the wood bat, but I hit with it the last two summers in the Cape Cod League and I’m comfortable with it,’‘ Utley said.
Utley was scheduled to take batting practice before the game last night, but his flight from Los Angeles was delayed. He will take batting practice and grounders today and tomorrow before leaving for Batavia Sunday night.
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Aaron Bracy has covered sports in Philadelphia for nearly three decades for various publications and as a freelancer for the Associated Press. His first book, A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003–04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (Brookline), can be ordered HERE. His second book, Are You Kidding Me? The Incredible, Inspiring Story of Allen Iverson and the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers (Brookline) is scheduled to be published in February 2027. You can preorder it HERE. Follow Bracy on social media HERE. Contact him at bracymedia@gmail.com.