The New York Yankees don’t know what is wrong with 24-year-old right-hander Phil Hughes, But they know something isn’t right. With that in mind the Yankees today placed the struggling Hughes on the 15-day disabled list.
“We decided it was in his best interest to get him on a long toss program and see if we can get him out of that fatigue or dead arm,” Girardi said.
Hughes lasted just 4.1 innings in his start Thursday night against Baltimore and was charged with five runs. He has a 13.94 ERA in three starts. and has given up 19 hits in 10.1 innings during those three starts. He has just three strikeouts, and his velocity has consistently been 88-90 mph, down from 92-94 a season ago.
Hughes went 18-8 with a 4.19 ERA for the Yankees a season ago, surrendering 162 hits in 176.1 innings.
The Yankees recalled Lance Pendleton from AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Bartolo Colon will take Hughes place in the rotation.
The Yankees have to get Hughes right. They have enough question marks in their starting rotation without Hughes falling apart. Hopefully, this is something he can work through rather than a sign on a young pitcher trying to hide an injury.
Pendleton is a 27-year-old right-hander who has been in the Yankee minor-league system for six seasons.