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Bryce Harper, Chase Utley, and Rob McElhenney promote MLB London Series with ‘Always Sunny’ skit

Utley, MLB’s ambassador to Europe, has been heavily promoting the Phillies’ international series. His latest skit might be his best work.

Actor Rob McElhenney (right) one of the creators of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," reacts after catching a ceremonial first pitch from former Phillies player Chase Utley before a baseball game between the Phillies and the Miami Marlins on June 21, 2019.
Actor Rob McElhenney (right) one of the creators of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," reacts after catching a ceremonial first pitch from former Phillies player Chase Utley before a baseball game between the Phillies and the Miami Marlins on June 21, 2019.Read moreAP

The Phillies are headed to London in a few short days.

Chase Utley, MLB’s ambassador to Europe, has been heavily promoting the Phillies’ international series by coming to Citizens Bank Park and filming a number of videos. But the latest skit might be his best work.

Back in 2009, Rob McElhenney’s character Mac, from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, wrote Utley a famous love letter on the episode “World Series Defense.” In 2013, Utley filmed a response, but in 2024, it seems like Mac moved on.

The skit shows Bryce Harper asking Utley for advice. Not about hitting — Harper would “go to Rollins for that,” he said — but about letters he’s received in the mail from a fan, asking him to have a catch in London.

Utley then calls McElhenney about the letters, and asks him to make a choice: him or Harper.

“He’s so clutch, and that beard, it’s like golden lamb’s wool,” McElhenney said in the skit. “Having a catch with Bryce in London doesn’t mean anything to me, it’s like a fling! I’m flinging the ball to Bryce in London, that’s it.”

Is the MLB teasing that McElhenney will throw out the first pitch in London? In 2019, and then again in 2022, he and Utley finally had a catch of their own when McElhenney threw him the first pitch at a game. McElhenney, thanks to his role with Wrexham AFC, a Welsh football club, has spent more time across the pond as of late.

The Phillies face the New York Mets on June 8-9 in London. The series is the Phillies’ first outside of North America.