Phil Hughes

Philip Joseph "Phil" Hughes (born June 24, 1986) is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the New York Yankees. He was the Yankees' first-round pick in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft.

Career

High school career and draft

Hughes was born in Mission Viejo, California, and attended Foothill High School in Santa Ana, California, where he was a first-team High School All-American pitcher and threw one perfect game. In his junior year (2003) he was 12–0, and posted an 0.78 ERA while striking out 85 batters in 72 innings. In his senior year (2004) he had a 9–1 record, with a 0.69 ERA. His one loss came at the hands of Woodbridge High School in Irvine, California. In 61 innings, he gave up 40 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 83 batters.

Hughes first committed to Santa Clara University, but was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (23rd overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. The Yankees were awarded this pick when they lost free agent pitcher Andy Pettitte to the Houston Astros.

Minor leagues and spring training

In 2004, he pitched 5 scoreless innings for the Gulf Coast League Yankees, striking out 8.

Hughes spent 2005, his first full professional year, split between the Class A Charleston RiverDogs and the Advanced A Tampa Yankees. He went 9–2 with a 1.24 ERA, and in 85.3 innings gave up 54 hits while striking out 93.

After receiving a non-roster...
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