Phil Hughes: I Think There'll Be Opportunities
With the New York Yankees' recent offseason moves, the team didnโt leave a spot open in the rotation for Phil Hughes. We know that the Yankees wantedย toย put the best team out on the field, so itโs understandable. This year is a different year though, as Phil wonโt get a guaranteed spot.
Soโฆwhat is Hughes going to do? For you guys already giving up on the kid, remember he is still 22 years old.
Phil will start the season in Triple-A Scranton, and he will try his best to impress the Yankees. He hopes to last a full season without getting injured. He hasnโt had a lot of luck with these weird injuries,ย but hopefully he can turn back to form this season.
Hughes may get a chance to pitch in the majors this season if any injuriesย occur, or if they need to skip Jobaโs turn in the rotation.
Hughesย was horrible last season for the most part. He went (W-L) 0-4 with a 6.62 ERA with the Yankees. Terrible, right? The way I see it is that things can only get better for him.
Hughes is at the Yankees' minor-league complex down in Tampa and this is what he had to say in a recent interview:
"โIt is what it is,โ Hughes said of his situation. โItโs the Yankees and weโre going to put the best team on the field. Last year was obviously a different situation than this year. But Iโve been in spring training before where there wasnโt a spot open for me and thatโs the way it goes.
โIf I pitch really well in spring and I still start the year in Triple-A, thereโs nothing you can do about it. You just go out and pitch well and let things fall how they will. Itโs one thing to complain about the guys we signed, but on the other hand, weโve got a pretty good team. Thereโs no lack of effort by the front office to put a good team on the field. I look at that as a good thing.
โI think thereโll be opportunities. You donโt often hear about guys who are lights out at Triple A and never get an opportunity. I look at it from that aspect. I donโt look at it in any sort of a bitter way or anything like that.โ
โThatโs not something in our minds,โ GM Brian Cashman said. โThere just arenโt enough quality starters in the game, in the system, to do that. You can always find relievers, but we believe Phil is a quality starting pitcher.โ
Hughes added 10 pounds over the winter to get to 240โheโs 6'5"โbecause he felt he was too light last season at 230. โIโm trying to keep myself where I can be durable and be able to get through a whole year,โ Hughes said. โFor once, right?"
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