Phil Hughes

2013

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2012

After winning 18 games in 2010, Hughes came into 2011 with high expectations and was a huge disappointment, giving up 16 runs in 10.1 innings before hitting the DL with a shoulder injury. Upon his return, Hughes had eight excellent starts in which he gave up two earned runs or fewer, and three disasters when he gave up six earned runs or more. Hughes said he's committed to working harder in the offseason to avoid the injury problems that plagued him in 2011. Despite that fact that it seems like he's been around forever, he's still just 25 and has untapped growth potential.

2011

Hughes' first season as a full-time starter got off to a brilliant start, but he lost some steam in the second half, posting a 4.90 ERA and a 1.9 K/BB ratio after the All-Star break. However, he had never thrown more than 86 big league innings in a season before last year, so fatigue down the stretch undoubtedly played a role in his struggles. Now free of his innings restrictions, Hughes figures to be more consistent and may even improve on last year's 7.5 K/9IP. He should earn plenty of wins as well with the Yankees' potent offense backing him up.

2010

Hughes opened 2009 as a starter but lasted just seven outings before the Yankees elected to shift course and transition him to the bullpen. He eventually emerged as the chief setup man for supercloser Mariano Rivera, recording a 1.40 ERA and racking up a blistering 65:13 K:BB ratio in 51.1 innings out of the bullpen. The Yankees plan to move him back to the rotation for 2010, though he'll have to compete for the role this spring. Remember that he’s just 23 years old, so expect an innings restriction similar to Joba Chamberlain’s last year if he does stick as a starter.

2009

Injuries derailed the Yankees' young phenom again last season, as he made just 14 starts -- eight with New York -- and compiled 63 innings during his second run at the big leagues. Just one year ago, the Yankees wouldn't pull the trigger on a deal centered around Hughes to put Johan Santana in pinstripes, but now it seems that the organization's patience with their potential young ace is being tested. Manager Joe Girardi said that his place in the rotation isn't guaranteed, but Hughes' excellent stint in the Arizona Fall League -- 2-0, 3.00 ERA, .198 BAA and 38:13 K:BB in 30 innings -- should give him the leg up on a rotation spot provided that the Yankees don't go overboard to rebuild their corps of starters via free agency. Keep in mind that he'll turn just 23 in June, and that none of his ailments over the last two seasons have been of the elbow or shoulder variety. There's still plenty to like here.

2008

The Yankees are hoping that Hughes will be the ace of their rotation before too long, and while he might be slotted into the middle of the rotation in 2008, it shouldn't be long before he knocks Chien-ming Wang off the perch as the club's No. 1 starter. His numbers as a rookie weren't as strong as the hype might have called for, but remember that Hughes was carrying a no-hitter through 6.2 innings in his second career start before a severe hamstring strain and subsequent ankle injury cost him three months. Hughes should begin to fully deliver on his potential as one of the game's premier young hurlers by season's end.

2007

One of the most coveted pitching prospects in all of baseball, even the prospect-peddling Yankees were unwilling to move Hughes when the trade deadline approached last July. He'll turn 21 years old this June, and he's already torn up hitters through the Double-A level, holding opponents to a .176 average in 21 starts for Trenton in 2006. He should start the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but if any question marks arise from the back of the New York rotation, Hughes may be the answer as early as this season.

2006

Hughes is the best pitching prospect in the Yankees system. He's just 19 years old and struck out 93 in 86 1/3 IP at two levels in 2005. He should start 2006 at Double-A, and it's not unreasonable to think he'll be in the Yankees rotation by mid-2007. Given the Yankees' renewed focus on keeping their youngsters around, there's a better-than-even chance he'll make it to the Bronx.

2004

The big Californian drafted out of high school can get up to 95 mph with his fastball but needs to refine his secondary pitches a great deal. He's raw with a huge potential but will need a good deal of instruction to become a proficient starter.