July 5, 2007

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Former standout UCLA and Cotuit Kettleers’ second baseman Chase Utley has been voted by fans nationwide to start at second base in the 78th MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 10 in San Francisco. Utley earned 2,112,142 votes to lead all National League second basemen and will make his third-consecutive All-Star Game appearance.

Utley, who has collected more RBI (66) and tied for the most hits (103) among all National League second basemen this season, will be a part of the youngest starting infield in All-Star history – along with Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder and New York’s David Wright and Jose Reyes. Utley hit 1-for-2 in last season’s Midsummer Classic at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Utley led the voting among second basemen in every week that the totals were released. His current batting average of .326 is sixth-highest among all National League hitters and is tied for third among National League second basemen. Utley’s 15 home runs ties for second-most among National League second basemen.

The second overall selection in the 2000 MLB Draft by Philadelphia, Utley was a two-time All-America first-team selection while at UCLA (1998-2000). After gaining Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball in 1998, Utley captured ABCA All-America first-team recognition in 1999. As a junior in 2000, Utley earned All-America first-team honors from The Sporting News, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the American Baseball Coaches Association.

A two-time All-Pac-10 selection at second base, Utley established himself among the single-season and career record books at UCLA. The former Bruin totaled 53 career home runs (4th), 256 hits (5th) and 174 runs batted in (7th). Utley’s total of 108 hits in 2000 currently ranks second on the UCLA single-season hit list.