Former World Series champion second baseman Chase Utley has done it all throughout his MLB career, playing 16 years in the MLB while making six All-Star appearances before his retirement in 2018.
It appears that even after his retirement, his time working with MLB is not over just yet.
Utley discussed what he has been up to after his retirement in an interview on Friday, and revealed that he will shortly be taking a role with the MLB as an ambassador for the sport in England.
“I’m going to work for Major League Baseball as their ambassador to the U.K.,” said Utley via People Magazine.
The European market has been something that the MLB has been hoping to expand on after the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox took part in a series in London in 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic certainly set back that idea, but we may have more baseball overseas in the somewhat near future.
He expanded on just how the MLB plans to expand into that market, revealing that London will have a series within the next two years.
“London will have a series the next two summers,” Utley added. “I’m going to go there to promote it and talk it up and try to get more Europeans involved in baseball.”
During Utley’s playing career, he was a major face for the sport, so it isn’t exactly surprising that he will now serve as a recognizable face to help promote the sport overseas.
MLB has certainly had trouble marketing its product over the years, so hopefully Utley can help provide some excitement for baseball in Europe moving forward in this new role.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.