Assistant general manager Scott Proefrock says the news is encouraging, but the team is sticking to its original timetable for Utley's return. When the five-time All-Star had surgery on July 1, he was expected to miss at least eight weeks.
Proefrock says Utley will start a rehab assignment when he's ready.
Utley tore a ligament in his thumb sliding into second base in a game at Cincinnati on June 28. He's batting .277 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs.
