TAMPA — Phil Hughes’ accelerated pitching program didn’t bother the bulging disk in his upper back. However, it won’t deliver the right-hander to the Yankees’ rotation during the first trip through.
Instead, Hughes will join Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira on the DL although Hughes is expected to beat the others back by a significant margin.
After Ivan Nova and Hughes hurled in minor league games Wednesday manager Joe Girardi confirmed that David Phelps, who is starting tonight against the Orioles in Sarasota, and Nova, who was rocked by Toronto’s Single-A hitters, would pitch in the opening week.
“He could possibly be ready for (April 6) if necessary but we have a plan and the plan is to give him two more (minor league) starts,” Girardi said of Hughes, who hasn’t faced big league hitters this spring. The DL move can be backdated to March 22. That means April 6 is the first day Hughes would be eligible to come off the shelf. “It doesn’t necessarily mean he has to but we have to be prepared.”
If Hughes makes two more minor league starts he would be on schedule to come off the disabled list April 11 when the Yankees are in Cleveland.
Should that happen, Hughes would likely replace Phelps or Nova if the other three starters aren’t injured. Based on the way Nova finished the spring — pounded by the Twins on March 22 and giving up seven runs and eight hits (two homers) against Single-A batters Wednesday, Nova is the favorite to be deleted.
Hughes is hoping that he can show enough Monday in a game — likely in the extended spring program — to grab the fifth spot but that is a long shot.
“It all depends on the next one, get my pitch count up and if that’s what they want to do, that’s what they want to do,” Hughes said of the plan for two more starts. “I have to concentrate on these four days, pitch on Monday and see from there.”