Chase Utley
It’s a toss up between the greatest second baseman in franchise history, Chase Utley, and the Phillies active hits leader, Cesar Hernandez.
Ultimately (both statistically and sentimentally) Utley came out on top, and the fans agreed in our blind comparison poll.
Like Howard, Utley was falling out of his prime years due to injury during the 2010’s, but that didn’t stop him from being the best at his position in the decade.
From 2005-09 Utley received MVP votes and if not for a John Lannan pitch to the hand, he likely would have won in 2007 instead of Jimmy Rollins. That pitch likely cost Utley some Hall of Fame votes by taking away the MVP award, something a lot of voters will hold against Utley.
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The biggest fall for Utley and his HOF resume are the nagging knee injuries that benched him for years. Still, during the decade Utley led Phillies second basemen with 72 home runs, 129 doubles, and 331 RBI.
Hernandez, who took over full-time in 2015 when Utley was traded to the Dodgers, leads second basemen during the decade with 807 hits, 27 triples, and a .277 batting average.
Only Placido Polanco, Wilson Valdez, and Freddy Galvis played at least 50 games at second base during the decade. Hernandez provided some stability at the position during the rebuild and the berth of a new core of young talent, which he likely won’t be a part of.
No one can pass Utley, one of the greatest players in franchise history, on this list.
Honorable Mention: Cesar Hernandez