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Just over a year ago, on June 19, 2010, Yankees starter Phil Hughes beat the Mets 5-3 to improve his record to 10-1. He was 11-2 at the All-Star break, an All-Star at the age of 24.
All the stars were within reach for the right-hander. Now, however, he’s trying to find himself on a minor league mound.
Exactly a year to the day after his 10th victory of 2010, Hughes made his first minor league rehab start last night at beautiful MCU Park in a Single-A game between the Staten Island Yankees and Brooklyn Cyclones. Hughes looked good, but there is still a long way for him to go.
Hughes pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed one run — a home run on a changeup to the last batter he faced, Cyclones catcher Nelfi Zapata. That was Hughes’ 61st pitch of the night. He’s on a strict pitch count in his rehab and it was time to go. Hughes, who is battling back from inflammation of his right shoulder, deemed his performance a success in the long road back.
“The main thing right now is that arm feels good,” Hughes said, adding he was happy he threw so many strikes — 41 of the 61 pitches.
Hughes struck out seven, walked one and allowed three hits. After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, he was on a roll and did not surrender another hit until Zapata’s shot. The Yankees gave up four more runs after Hughes left and lost, 5-3.
Hughes, wearing No. 53 instead of his usual 65, hit 95 mph on the radar gun early and was sitting from 90-93 the first three innings. His velocity dropped as low as 87 in the final inning and a third. Hughes has to maintain velocity, but that’s why they are called rehab starts.
The most encouraging aspect was that there was life in his right shoulder.
“That’s basically normal for me,” he said of the radar readings. “I felt like the ball was coming out good. I’m encouraged with that. I just have to make sure these next couple of outings, when I’m going deeper in games, that I can maintain that all the way through. That’s a good sign right now.”
Hughes equated the start to what would be a third or fourth spring training outing and said he hopes to be back in the Yankees rotation after a few more minor league starts. He will pitch for Double-A Trenton in five days.
Hughes turns 25 Friday. This has been one tough year. The Yankees’ other young gun, Joba Chamberlain, is out for at least a year following Tommy John surgery.
Pitchers can show promise, but nothing is promised.
When asked what this last year has been like, Hughes said: “Difficult; it’s been tough. I came to spring training I was hopeful of doing what I did last year, if not more. I think the team felt the same way. It’s really disappointing. I’m hoping I can get back and at least make something of this year.”
Before the game, hundreds of kids were in the outfield tossing baseballs with their dads, celebrating Father’s Day. It was a wonderful scene with Coney Island as the backdrop, the famous Cyclone and the Soaring Eagle just a home run from the beach. Beyond the left-field wall is the famous Nathan’s, where a hot dog with sauerkraut, French fries and large lemonade will set you back about 10 bucks.
Hughes made three early starts for the Yankees. He is 0-1 with a 13.94 ERA. He allowed 23 base runners in only 10 1/3 innings on 19 hits and four walks. Hughes was first diagnosed with a tired arm, then with inflammation of his right shoulder, which was treated with a cortisone shot.
Now he said he is putting all the problems behind him.
“I just kind of let it go,” Hughes said. “All I know is that I feel good now so it’s easier to deal with that. I’m feeling like myself. If I were struggling, it would be a lot harder to sleep at night.”
This year, it’s just one day at a time.