Q&A with Phil Hughes' High School Baseball Coach

(The Voice of Yankees Universe)

I was able to get in contact with Phil Hughes' high school baseball coach, Gary Fishel. Gary is the varsity baseball coach, and varsity assistant to the football team at Foothill High School in Santa Ana, Calif. He had the pleasure of coaching Phil, and he was willing to share his thoughts on him.

Q: What impressed you the most about Phil while watching him play at Foothill?

A: I think the thing that impressed me the most was his maturity as a player and the way he was able to carry himself emotionally as a player. He had such a great focus.That allowed him to keep his emotions in check when times got tough.

Q: “He can even improve more. He’s improved every year of high school, and I don’t think he’s plateaued. I think he’ll improve more. I think he’ll improve and get better. It doesn’t mean he’ll throw harder, but he’ll become a better pitcher later on.” What made you think he would get better?

A: Phil was always looking to get better and then you match his great work ethic. That showed me that he will continue to get better.

Q: Hughes pitched really well throughout high school. In his junior year, he went 72IP (W-L) 12-0 0.78ERA 85K 19BB. He pretty much never allowed any runners to score. Do you think it’s hard for a pitcher to succeed at the major league level, when early on in their careers they never had any problems working out of jams?

A: I think it’s hard to succeed at the major league level period. We play very good baseball in Orange County and Phil had to work out of jams in his High School career. Phil had tremendous focus and ability that he would work out of those jams. I think Phil has done a great job making that transition from High School baseball to Major League Baseball.

Q: Where did you see him going in the draft? He was selected by the Yankees in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. What was your reaction?

A: I knew he was going to go in the first round. I thought it was going to be with the Angels. I think they had the 13th or 14th pick in the first round. They were very high on Phil, but they took Jered Weaver. So I was a little disappointed when I was listening to the draft. Then the Yankees got him at the end of the first. I was very happy that Phil was going to a great organization like the Yankees. It is a great thrill to have a player get drafted in the first round, so I was very happy for Phil, his family and our program.

Q: What was it like to go to a game that Phil pitched in? Were a lot of family, friends, and scouts showing up to the game to see him pitch?

A: His senior year I told myself to enjoy having a player like Phil. So watching him pitch was a lot fun. He did some special things on the mound (perfect game on his Dads birthday). There were always a lot of scouts, cross checkers and sometimes GMs of teams. Phil’s family and friends were always at every game.He had a great support system.

Q: Hughes hit .295 with a team-high 28 RBI as the Foothill Knights’ cleanup hitter in his junior year. Do you think he could have made it up to the major leagues as a hitter?

A: Phil was also our cleanup hitter his senior year. I think if he focused more on hitting it could have been possible. I would love to see him hit against major league pitching

Q: I’m sure you spent a lot of time talking to Phil and teaching him about the game. Do you have any funny stories you can tell us about him?

A: I do not have a specific story. Phil has always had a great sense of humor.

Q: I understand that you were a teacher in the science department over at Foothill High School. Was Phil one of your students? If yes, what kind of student was he?

A: I did not have Phil as a student in class but he was my teachers aide his senior year. It was great because all the 9th and 10th graders were asking him for his autograph toward the end of the year.

Q: Now that Hughes has become a top prospect for the most famous team in all of sports...how does it feel that you were a part of his career?

A: I feel privileged that I was able to coach a player of his caliber. It was also great to watch him grow from a 9th grader to a first round pick of the Yankees.

Q: Phil hasn’t exactly played very well for the Yankees, but many fans still have faith in him. Coming off two injury plagued seasons has set him back. If you could give Phil some advice right now, what would you tell him?

A: I think Phil will be a great major league pitcher.I am looking forward to seeing Phil pitch injury free this year. The only thing I have told Phil in the past is to believe in yourself, because he belongs with the big club.

I want to thank Mr. Fishel for taking the time to answer these questions.
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