Chase Utley hadn't played a game for the Philadelphia Phillies since October 7.
Since Spring Training, fans have been left in the dark regarding Utley's health and whether the 33-year-old second baseman would ever play another inning of baseball for the Phillies, or any Major League team, ever again.
It certainly didn't look good for either the Phillies or Utley.
The team got off to a poor start, and the would-be role players became everyday guys on a team that usually boasts a lineup filled with All-Star caliber players. Utley continued to rehab his knees, but many wondered how effective his program would actually be.
Would Utley ever play the sport again? Even if he does play, will he be able to play at a level even close to what we're accustomed to seeing? Will his knees hold up, even if he only has to play half of this season?
When asked if he took these doubts about his future personally, Chase replied, "100 percent."
And, at least for one night, Utley answered these doubters in a huge way.
In his first at-bat since the Phillies' Game 5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS, Chase Cameron Utley crushed a 2-2 curveball into the seats in right-center field at Citizens Bank Park.
The crowd, who has been understandibly dormant at times this season, erupted with emotion as Utley sprinted around the bases on what seem to be much healthier knees. This, of course, was just moments after the sell-out crowd welcomed Utley back to the lineup by giving him the biggest, loudest, and most emotional ovation of 2012.
And Utley didn't stop there.
He ended up going 3-for-5 with two singles and that solo blast in the first inning. However, his defensive plays throughout the game really put to ease some of the concerns surrounding his knees.
He galloped over towards second base, gobbled up the ball, and proceeded to chase down a Pirates' runner that had no chance of out-running the determined Utley. He ranged all the way over to the first-base line in shallow right field to snag a shallow fly ball.
He made us believe, at least for one night, that maybe the 2012 Phillies aren't ready to give up just yet.
