PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies second baseman Chase Utley has had arthroscopic hip surgery and is expected to need four to six months to recover.
The three-time All Star had surgery Monday to trim the labrum and a bony lesion in his right hip at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, team officials said Tuesday.
Despite feeling symptoms for much of the year, Utley hit .292 and led all second basemen with 33 home runs and 104 RBI as the Phillies won the National League East for the second consecutive year. In the playoffs, he hit three home runs with nine RBI to help the Phillies win their second World Series in team history and first since 1980.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said last week that he expected Utley to be ready at or shortly after the start of the 2009 regular season.
Spring training begins Feb. 14. Philadelphia's first regular-season game is April 5.
WRPSU 
