Apr 10, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley (26) fields a ground ball and records the out at first base during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Photo Credit: Kenny Karst-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Dodgers officially re-signed second baseman Chase Utley to a one-year contract on Saturday.
The Dodgers opened a roster spot for Utley by releasing infielder/outfielder Darin Ruf so he could sign with the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization.
The 38-year-old Utley was the Dodgers’ starting second baseman in 2016, but he returns in a bench role after the team acquired Logan Forsythe from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade last month.
“I’m going to make sure Chase gets his at-bats,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said recently. “It’s going to work itself out. But the big thing is Chase wanted to be here and be part of what we’ve got going on.”
Utley batted .252 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 138 games last season. Over his 14-year major league career, he is hitting .278 with 250 home runs and 977 RBIs.
