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04/25/2007 10:48 PM ET
Hughes ready for coming-out party
- Prospect ready to step onto game's grandest stage
By Caleb Breakey / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Phil Hughes is in an elite class. Not because of his mid-90s
fastball or his sharp breaking pitches, or even his early showing of Major
League poise.
When he takes the mound against the Blue Jays on Thursday, Hughes -- the
Yankees' No. 1 selection in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft -- will become
just the second first-rounder since 1995 to play in pinstripes.
The other? A best-selling author who dreamed of becoming a Yankee since
childhood, a seven-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove winner, a true
Yankee.
His name is Derek Jeter, and already he thinks highly of Hughes.
"He's worked extremely hard," Jeter said. "And what is he, 21?"
Not even. Hughes' birth certificate shows that he'll be restricted in some
things until June 24, his birthday. But one of the limitations won't be
pitching, as he is guaranteed at least one turn in a Yankees rotation looking
for help -- no matter the age of the contributor.
"It's definitely an accomplishment, but it's not the goal right now," Hughes
said. "Just to be compared to guys like [Jeter] is pretty unbelievable."
Born in Mission Viejo, Calif., Hughes comes across as a regular West Coast
guy. He doesn't speak much, and he doesn't show much emotion. But manager Joe
Torre and general manager Brian Cashman, along with Hughes' surrounding
teammates, say plenty of him.
Calling up Hughes didn't come unexpected, just early, Cashman said. Injuries
to Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano created a perfect storm to offer Hughes this
early opportunity in the big leagues.
Given the rough recent outings posted by the Yankees starters, Torre seemed
at ease with Hughes taking the mound. Even with a rainout on Wednesday, Torre
moved Andy Pettitte's regularly scheduled start to Friday and left Hughes to
make his debut as expected on Thursday against the Blue Jays.
"He seems to be a little more mature for someone his age," Torre said. "He's
sure more mature than I was at his age, just [from] the way he carries
himself. But again, you don't know what's going on inside. ... I understand
why the organization wants to take care of this kid, because he certainly
appears to be the real deal."
Reliever Brian Bruney remembered his first appearance in the Majors, back in
2004, an experience he hasn't yet shared with Hughes. Bruney said that he
couldn't feel his hands. He couldn't remember how the batters made outs. He
didn't sleep the night before.
"There's no setting up for it," Bruney said. "I don't know what he's going to
feel like. He's pretty mature for his age, so he could be totally calm and
not nervous at all. You can't really prepare."
Hughes said that he'll probably take some cold medication to help him sleep,
because he knows it will be tough keeping his eyes closed on Wednesday night.
"I know I won't naturally fall asleep easily," he said.
Such names as Joe Thurston, Jason Jaramillo and Gary Burnham probably don't
mean much to the general public. But they could be the happiest people in the
Minor Leagues on Thursday. They are the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters for the
Ottawa Lynx, the team scheduled to play against Triple-A
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. Hughes would have pitched against the Lynx
if he hadn't been called up.
Hughes has elicited fear in Minor League hitters with his electric pitches.
He throws a four-seam fastball that pops when it hits the catcher's glove,
and his breaking pitches have bite, according to catcher Jorge Posada.
"He's capable of doing a lot of things," Posada said. "That's why he has that
tag on his shoulder. He's a great prospect, great arm. Age doesn't really
matter if you have a good head on your shoulders."
Sean Henn, who sat a couple of lockers away from Hughes in Spring Training
and now is his neighbor in the Yankees' clubhouse, said that the only bad
thing about Hughes reaching the big leagues is that the media will take up
all of his elbow room.
"That guy threw a bullpen in Spring Training and they held a press conference
for it," Henn said.
But there was good reason. Hughes entered this season with a career record of
21-7 and 2.13 ERA, striking out 269 batters in 237 1/3 innings.
After a few mediocre starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year, Hughes broke
out with a solid performance last week against the Syracuse Chiefs -- two
hits and 10 strikeouts in six innings of work.
"You don't see that. That's abnormal, much less him being [6-foot-5], 230
pounds," Henn said. "I guess that's like how LeBron [James] was in high
school. That's probably how he dominated. It's just unheard of. They didn't
grow them like that when I was in high school, and I wasn't there long ago."
Syracuse is Toronto's Triple-A affiliate, and Blue Jays manager John Gibbons
said that his team will get some information about Hughes from his Minor
League staff. But even with a head's up, Gibbons knows what he's up against.
"He's thought very highly of -- [it's] arguable they say the best pitcher in
the Minor Leagues," Gibbons said. "We know he'll be bringing it pretty good."
About 15 or 20 friends, family members and former coaches will be in
attendance for Hughes' debut.
"I can definitely feel the anticipation," he said.
Hughes' cell phone rang nonstop shortly after news of his promotion broke,
and one of the callers was an old high school friend from California. The
friend said he'd just added Hughes to his fantasy baseball team, just mere
hours after Hughes was informed he'd be living out his own Major League
dreams.
"But you better be good," he told Hughes, "or I'll drop you."
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