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A Conversation With Philip Hughes

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2008

TAMPA - The Yankees are counting on Philip Hughes as a mainstay of their starting rotation after an injury-plagued 2007 season that saw the 21-year-old right-hander hampered by hamstring and ankle problems.

Along with Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, Hughes represents the vanguard of a fresh generation of New York hurlers expected to contribute key innings this summer for new manager Joe Girardi.

Hughes, who held right-handed batters to a .210 average in 13 starts last season, recently sat down with The Tampa Tribune to discuss what it's like to wear Yankee pinstripes at such a young age.

What's your state of mind as you prepare for your second major-league season?

I'm very excited, to say the least. In fact, it feels almost unreal at times. There's a lot of excitement, but at the same time, I know how hard I have to work to improve. I'm prepared to do exactly that, knowing nothing is going to be handed to me.

What did you learn by pitching for the big club in 2007?

I take a lot of things from last year, both the good and the bad. There were both at different points of the season. My first start was one of those out-of-body experiences that I'll never forget, but I had a good September and a strong playoff outing, so there are some things to build on.

Did you learn anything about your body?

I learned that you really have to take care of yourself because the baseball season is such a long haul. I went through the tribulations of being hurt and being out for a while, and that kind of thing makes you really appreciate a healthy body. That's what I'm working on here to maintain. Most of all, I learned that some injuries simply need rest and time. The good thing was there was no pressure on me to rush back to the mound.

How did the major-league experience match the fantasy?

It's everything you can imagine. To go on that field every day and play with guys you watched on TV when you were growing up is hard to put into words. And Yankee Stadium is just unreal. You walk down that tunnel, almost bump your head on the low ceiling, and step out onto the field. That's a feeling you can't describe.

How tough is it to get big-league hitters out consistently?

It's all about adjustments at this level. If you make your pitches, you'll be all right most of the time, but these guys jump on mistakes. You get scouting reports in the minors and you can pretty much exploit hitters' weaknesses down there, but up here, batters are constantly working to catch up to you. That's sort of the game within the game.

What's it like to be a New York Yankee?

It's unreal. For someone who grew up as a Red Sox fan, I never thought I'd be putting on this uniform. It's hard to put into words. You have to realize you are one of only 25 players among hundreds of thousands in the world with the opportunity to play for the New York Yankees. I don't care who you are, that's special.

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