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TAMPA — With a rotation that is a largely a mixture of aging veterans and somewhat unproven starters, Phil Hughes’ health is not something the Yankees want to worry about.
And while the right-hander still has several tests to pass before he can be counted on to begin the regular season in the rotation after last month’s back injury, yesterday was a positive sign.
Hughes threw live batting practice for the first time since suffering two bulging disks in his upper back on Feb. 18. The 26-pitch session went according to plan, but he’s not ready to make any guarantees he’ll be on the mound in time for the first week of the regular season.
“Everything has to go right,” Hughes said after he finished throwing at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Hughes reported no problems and, if he doesn’t suffer any setbacks, is scheduled to throw a simulated game Monday.
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
“I felt great and the ball was coming out pretty good,” Hughes said. “I was excited because I haven’t done it in so long. I hadn’t faced a hitter since last playoffs.”
And Hughes’ arm strength has nearly returned to where it was before the injury.
“It’s just a hair off from where I was,” Hughes said. “I’m just going to take a little bit of time — which obviously isn’t what I want to go through right now — but I’m going to make sure it’s right before I do anything.”
While his command wasn’t quite where he wanted it, Hughes is confident it will get there.
“I anticipated that,” Hughes said. “It was somewhat of an adrenaline-filled pitching scenario.”
The Yankees would like him to pitch in four spring training games before he gets his first regular-season start, and while there remains a chance Hughes could get enough work in, both he and manager Joe Girardi remain cautious.
“I feel good with what I’m doing and the goal is to be out there, whether it’s the first turn around or the second at the latest,” said Hughes, who still didn’t rule out missing an early outing. “I’d rather it be one start than a bunch that pile up if I’m not right when I get back.”
His manager agreed.
“We’ve just got to see where he’s at,” Girardi said. “I think it’s still really early to judge if he could be ready to start the season.”
Still, Girardi acknowledged the importance of Hughes being on the mound.
“I think it’s a pretty significant step,” the manager said before Hughes threw. “I’ve got to believe as a pitcher, your competitive nature will take over a little bit when guys are in there trying to whack the ball.”
Afterward, Girardi said he thought Hughes looked “OK.”
He said he wants Hughes to be able to throw 90-100 pitches before he rejoins the rotation and he’s hopeful that can happen by the end of spring training.
“I’d like to leave with five starters so guys get that [extra] day,” Girardi said. “We play a substantial amount of days in a row after that first day off [immediately following Opening Day] and it’s early.”
If Hughes ends up unable to begin the season in The Bronx, Ivan Nova and David Phelps would be set to both make the rotation until Hughes’ return.