Balls and Strikes

The Philadelphia Phillies got some bad news on Thursday, as it was announced that second baseman Chase Utley and third baseman Pedro Feliz both need surgery.

Utley will have his right hip looked at and could be out up to six months, while Feliz will undergo back surgery and be sidelined up to four months.

Here is the release from the Phillies:



UTLEY, FELIZ TO HAVE SURGERY

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and third baseman Pedro Feliz will each have surgery, Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. and Head Athletic Trainer Scott Sheridan jointly announced today.

Since the end of the World Series, Utley, 29, has had several diagnostic studies in regards to right hip symptoms that he had during the 2008 season. He has been evaluated by Phillies team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Based on the diagnostic studies and examinations, it has been recommended that Utley have surgery on his right hip, which is scheduled for next week. The procedure will be an arthroscopic evaluation with treatment of any labral or bony injury. The recovery will allow for the initiation of baseball activities between three and four months, however, the total recovery time may require four to six months.

Feliz, 33, will have low back surgery on November 20. He was on the disabled list during the 2008 season for 26 days in relation to a low back injury and had intermittent symptoms at the end of the season that deemed off-season follow-up necessary. Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles will perform the surgery, which is scheduled to be a lumbar discectomy. After surgery, Feliz will complete an eight-to-12 week rehabilitation program.