Phil Hughes will come inside if necessary against Derek Jeter.
Hughes is scheduled to make his first Yankee Stadium appearance Sunday in a uniform not adorned with pinstripes.
The former Yankee signed a three-year, $24 million free-agent deal with the Twins after a 2013 season to forget in The Bronx and has been a revelation so far in Minnesota. Now he’ll pitch against his former mates, including Jeter, whom he faced once before, in spring training, 2008.
“He was playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and I was strictly told to throw fastballs away because we didn’t want to hit him,” Hughes said with a laugh Friday before the Yankees played the Twins to start a seven-game homestand. “I don’t think I have to do that this time.”
If you were wondering: Jeter got a hit that first time.
It might be harder this time if Hughes (5-1, 3.23 ERA) continues his recent roll. Go back to April 20 — that was the last time Hughes walked a batter (Alcides Escobar of the Royals in the second inning).
Since that walk, Hughes has pitched 43 ²/₃ innings, facing 175 batters, without walking anyone. In his last seven starts — he won five and had two no decisions — he has struck out 33, walked only Escobar and forged a 1.94 ERA.
“He’s been really, really good, just pounding the strike zone,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Not trying to be too fancy with it. ‘Here it is, hit it.’ With good movement, cutting his fastball a little bit. He’s just been all over the strike zone and he’s forced the issue. They have to be aggressive and he’s been locating.”
Hughes said he has simply gotten back to basics.
“I feel pretty good with my mechanics right now,” Hughes said. “I’ve been trying to just simplify things.”
Aside from that, Hughes said, he’s the same as he was with the Yankees, although he is throwing his curveball far more than his slider.
“Fastball, cutter, curveball,” Hughes said. “Same stuff. Not a knuckleball or anything.”
Same stuff, but far different results than his 4-14 season in 2013, which he recalls as a painful blot on his seven seasons with the Yankees. Neither side contested the divorce.
“Both parties felt like it was the right thing to cut the cord I guess at that point,” Hughes said. “Obviously, you talk about last year and I have a lot of great feelings toward this city, toward this team, toward the fans. But it’s tough when you leave somewhere on such a negative note, and that’s kind of how you’re going to be remembered by most, which is unfortunate. I feel very fondly about my time here. … I don’t have any ill feelings toward anybody or anything. Leaving on a bad note is tough, but it’s definitely nice to be back.”
Nice, but weird. For example, the 28-year-old righty had never been in the visiting clubhouse until Friday. For Sunday, he’s not expecting a warm welcome.
“Probably not very good. They’re tough,” Hughes said of New York fans. “That’s what makes playing here so great because they are the best fans and they’re passionate. They love this team, they love this city.”
Not everybody will spew venom, though.
“He had some really good years here. He had a tough year last year, and that can happen to anyone,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “This was a guy who took the ball and gave us everything he had. All the guys would tell you he was a great teammate and was fun to have around. … He won 18 games [in 2010]. He won 16 games [in 2012]. He was a dominant reliever at Yankee Stadium. He had a tough year last year and that can happen.”
But that’s all in the past. Hughes is thinking only of his next start.
“I’m going to try and treat it like any other game. It might be more difficult, but as of right now my mind-set is treat it like any other game,” Hughes said. “I just have to continue to do what I do. I feel like I can pitch anywhere if I do that.”
Even inside against Jeter.