Batting left-handed and throwing right-handed, Utley has demonstrated versatility as a player and as an athlete, spending some time at second and first base. Utley in combination with Jimmy Rollins has been deemed as one of the best middle-infield combinations in the NL. Due to Utley's youth and strong personality, he has also been considered by fans to be a team leader.

Utley was a member of Team USA in the 2006 World Baseball Classic where he traveled to Japan with other major league stars to compete against Japanese All-Stars. He has been selected by fans to start at second base for the National League for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game numerous times. 

During the 2006 season, Utley maintained a 35-game hitting streak. As a result, Utley was named the National League Player of the Month for July 2006. Also in 2006, Utley combined with Jimmy Rollins to become the first pair of middle infielders in National League history to hit 25 home runs each in the same season; Utley hit 32, while Rollins hit 25. He later received the Silver Slugger Award for being the best hitting second baseman in the National League. Utley was an intregal part of the 2008 World Series Champion Phillies, again winning the Silver Slugger Award. 

Utley has received other rewards such as National League Player of the Week awards and the 2007 NL Player of the Month for April where his five-game home run streak tied the Phillies franchise record. In December of 2010, Utley was named by Sports Illustrated as the second baseman on its MLB All-Decade Team.