DETROIT — A cortisone shot to Phil Hughes’ right shoulder has done wonders for the pitcher’s head.
General manager Brian Cashman said yesterday that Hughes took a spike of cortisone on April 28 to combat inflammation in the shoulder. That was two weeks after Hughes’ last start and 13 days after he was placed on the disabled list with a “dead arm.”
Hughes was looked at by Dr. Robert William Thompson Monday in St. Louis, and thoracic outlet syndrome that causes circulation problems was ruled out. Hughes returned to New York and met with Yankees team doctor Chris Ahmad yesterday.
According to Cashman, Hughes will rest for two weeks and then begin a throwing program. Cashman estimated it would take “six to eight weeks” to get Hughes back on the mound if there are no further setbacks.
“He feels significantly better,” Cashman said of Hughes, whose spot in the rotation has been taken by Bartolo Colon. “He claims since the cortisone injection he feels 110 percent better.”
Because Hughes never complained of pain in the shoulder area, Cashman couldn’t explain why Hughes feels much improved now. Nevertheless, he strongly indicated that not having TOS and the shoulder feeling good after the shot played a part in Hughes positive feelings.
“It sounds like he is in a much better mental place,” Cashman said before the Yankees’ 4-0 loss to the Tigers last night. “We will see, but it doesn’t guarantee anything. Hopefully we will get him back sooner than later.”
After going through multiple tests in New York and then traveling to St. Louis, the Yankees have left the door open for Hughes to seek another opinion if he wishes.
Cashman said Hughes’ agent told the club that it’s not an option at this point. If it takes eight weeks that would be the middle of July.
Though TOS has been ruled out, nobody has given a definitive explanation how a 24-year-old’s velocity went from 94-mph last year to 88-89 this year in three horrific starts.
“I can’t tell you we are on the back nine right now,” Cashman said. “I can tell you where we are in the process as we peel the onion.
“Hopefully we come out of the back end and he is ready.”
Because Hughes was 0-1 with a 13.94 ERA and had allowed 19 hits and four walks in 10 1/3 innings in three starts, he hasn’t been missed.
Colon stepped into Hughes spot, and the Yankees are 3-0 in his three starts, and Colon is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.49.
In 21 2/3 innings as a starter Colon has allowed 19 hits, three walks and fanned 20.
“Fortunately Bartolo has thrown the ball well in his absence,” manager Joe Girardi said of the veteran right-hander who missed all of last year because of shoulder woes and made the team as a reliever out of spring training.