Phillies to activate Chase Utley from DL on Friday

The Philadelphia Phillies will activate veteran second baseman Chase Utley from the disabled list Friday following a six-week hiatus caused by ankle inflammation.

What role the 36-year-old will have when he rejoins the 25-man roster, however, remains uncertain.

Utley, a six-time All-Star, endured a miserable start to his season before landing on the disabled list June 23, and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. indicated in early July that his starting job is no longer guaranteed.

"Not for me, he's not," Amaro said when asked if he still considered Utley the club's primary second baseman. "Cesar Hernandez is our best second baseman."

Before hurting his ankle, Utley hit just .179/.257/.275 with four home runs in 65 games for the Phillies, producing fewer wins above replacement (-1.3) than every other player in the majors. Hernandez, meanwhile, owns a .720 OPS (101 OPS+) with 16 stolen bases in 93 contests for the Phillies, starting all but two games at second base since June 21.

"But as far as I'm concerned, just like what our plan has been for a long, long time, and that's to give opportunities to young men who could be part of our future," said Amaro. "Cesar Hernandez has been one of our best players on the field right now in a variety of ways - running the bases, playing defense, playing with energy. He can switch-hit. He can run. He's doing a lot of the things that we want to see out of our young players."

In three rehab games, however, Utley has impressed at the plate, going 6-for-11 (.545) with one double and two walks between Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading.