Dodgers' Utley retiring at season's end: 'I'm ready to be a full-time dad'
The Man is ready to call it a career.
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley announced at a press conference Friday that he'll retire at season's end following 16 years in the major leagues.
The 39-year-old will walk away despite having a $1-million contract with Los Angeles for 2019.
"The thing I'm having the most difficult time with is being a part-time dad," Utley said, according to J.P. Hoornstra of Southern California News Group. "That's really the reason I'm shutting it down. I'm ready to be a full-time dad."
Utley said he’s ready to be a full-time dad and knows it’s the right time to retire after the year. “It is a difficult decision, but it’s one that I’m comfortable with.”
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) July 13, 2018
The Silver Fox was an integral part of the Philadelphia Phillies for most of his career, winning a World Series with them in 2008.
After 13 years in the City of Brotherly Love, Utley was traded across the country to the Dodgers in 2015.
The six-time All-Star owns a career slash line of .276/.358/.466 with 259 home runs and 1,025 RBIs. He's also one of only eight players to have been hit by more than 200 pitches, and currently ranks eighth all time with 201 HBP's.
He's hitting .231/.313/.331 with 14 RBIs for the Dodgers this season.