Kevin Kernan

Kevin Kernan

MLB

Ex-Yank Hughes not disappointed in path career has taken

JUPITER, Fla. — Don’t dare use the “D’’ word around Phil Hughes.

He is not disappointed with his career and even though Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy were once considered the pitching future of the Yankees, and all three No. 1 draft picks have moved on to different teams, disappointment is in the eye of the beholder.

“Sometimes people don’t realize what a disappointing career is,’’ Hughes said Tuesday after making his first spring training start for the Twins in a 3-1 loss to the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium.

He is right about that.

“It’s injuries and not making it to the big leagues,’’ said Hughes, who signed a three-year, $24 million deal with Minnesota after going 4-14 last season (5.19 ERA) and compiling a 56-50 record with a 4.54 ERA with the Yankees over seven seasons.

“You’re talking about guys who have had success in the majors and have been around a long time,’’ Hughes said. “But because maybe we didn’t reach the expectations of every single person out there that it somehow goes down as a disappointment. I think that’s unfair.

“I feel blessed every day that I’ve been able to have the career that I have and have had a lot of years in this league and hopefully a lot more to come. You go through ups and downs and disappointments and you are not exactly doing what you want to do or take the path that maybe you had envisioned, but that’s part of life. That’s part of baseball. Not everything is going to be a storybook ending or even a storybook path, but I still feel really good with where I’m at.’’

There you have it.

“A lot is made of guys coming up and they want to put labels on guys, and group guys together with like the big three the Mets had some years back,’’ Hughes said of Generation K (Bill Pulsipher, Jason Isringhausen and Paul Wilson). “Everybody is their own person. People are going to take different paths and you can’t expect guys to just light up the world, especially for all three guys to do it right off the bat.’’

Life with the Yankees threw Hughes a curve as he surrendered 59 home runs the last two seasons (20-27, 4.65 ERA). He has to get back to being the pitcher he needs to be and that means getting the curveball back in his arsenal.

Hughes has made the pitch a priority. Ten of his 44 pitches were curve balls over his 2 ²/₃ innings Tuesday. He gave up one run on two hits while striking out three, two on curveballs.

Remember, Hughes is only 27. It’s not like he is 34.

If Hughes appears older, he said with a smile: “New York did wear on me a little bit.’’

Hughes made the drive Monday night from Fort Myers along Alligator Alley. He was hoping to see an alligator.

“I was hyped up and I didn’t see one,’’ he said. “I saw some roadkill. They said to watch out and not flip your car on those [alligators].’’

Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said this of his new pupil: “Phil just has to get his confidence back. He told me last year he scuffled and put pressure on himself and tried to do more, and that’s when your head gets spinning. I think a new start, new place will be good for him. I love his makeup and his work ethic.’’

Why did Hughes abandon the curve?

“I was making adjustments and I got away from who I am and what I should be,’’ Hughes said. “It wasn’t happy thoughts about last year and I said, ‘What do I have to do to get myself better?’ ”

Being Phil Hughes is good enough.

“Sometimes,’’ Hughes said with another smile. “It’s a work in progress.’’

If Hughes can get his curveball back and command the fastball that was in the 91-92 mph range Tuesday, the one-time All-Star said he believes he will find success with the Twins.

Let others look for disappointment.