Philadelphia, PA –  Chase Utley's long road back from a knee injury is complete.

The Philadelphia Phillies activated the second baseman from the 15-day disabled list, in time for Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Utley, who has been out all season due to a chronic knee condition, appeared in nine games with single-A Clearwater as part of a rehabilitation assignment. On Tuesday, he went 2-for-5 with a home run in a game with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The 33-year-old Utley was also sidelined to start the 2011 campaign because of knee issues. He missed 46 games and didn't appear in a big league contest until May.

Utley played just 103 games last year and batted only .259, well below his career average of .290, and his power numbers have also dropped.

He reached the 30-homer plateau three times during his career and also knocked in 100 runs four times, but last year he belted just 11 homers and drove in only 44 runs.

The five-time defending NL East champions have struggled with injuries to key players this season and find themselves in fourth place in the division entering Wednesday. First baseman Ryan Howard, who hasn't played this year, continues to recover from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in the playoffs last year. Starting pitcher Roy Halladay is on the DL with a strained right lat muscle.

To make room for Utley on the roster, the Phillies optioned infielder Michael Martinez to Lehigh Valley. Martinez was hitting .133 in 16 games with the Phillies.