Phil Hughes is Back in the Starting Rotation… Temporarily We Hope

By Johnny Minnesota |

Apr 20, 2018

As Minnesota gets set for this weekend’s three-game series vs the Tampa Bay Rays, the A.L. Central leading ballclub should be plenty rested. Between a bullshit April blizzard, and off days surrounding the Puerto Rico trip, the Twins have played two games (25 innings, though) over the past week.

With their next trio of contests taking place away from Target Field, there’s no need to sweat the forecast. The Rays play their home games at Tropicana Field.

Tropicana Field is the Metrodome’s doppelgänger pic.twitter.com/egaWEWfFoL

— Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN) April 20, 2018

Sidebar: My sources say there’s no chance there of a dome collapse due to snow.

After Lance Lynn takes the mound on Friday, barring any unforeseen events, Kyle Gibson will do the same on Saturday. While Lynn and Gibson have already combined for five starts, Sunday’s pitcher will be making his MLB season debut:

Sunday starter? Phil Hughes looks ready for first start for #mntwins since July, @LaVelleNeal reports https://t.co/jMLt6KOs53 pic.twitter.com/DW5rUewv6C

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) April 20, 2018

Per LaVelle E. Neal III, the 31 year-old, Phil Hughes, will be activated from the disabled list in time to start Sunday against Tampa Bay. The move comes in anticipation of next week’s four game series vs. the Evil Empire:

Hughes’ appearance will mark the end of Paul Molitor’s previously employed four-man rotation.

Minnesota’s next (scheduled) off day isn’t until May 17th. With their best pitcher from 2017, Ervin Santana, expected to return around that time, how long Hughes stays among the reigning A.L. Manager of the Year’s Top 5 starters will remain to be seen.

The 2004 first round draft pick is coming off of a 2017 season that was a doppelgänger of his 2016 campaign.

Latest setback ‘disheartening’ for Phil Hughes, who could face 2nd season-ending surgery in 12-plus months. https://t.co/cfZ0RmNz1E

— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) July 18, 2017

According to our friends at the Mayo Clinic, “Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib are compressed.” While that breakdown makes the condition sound worse, Hughes has expressed that he FEELS better.

#MNTwins MiLB results: Fort Myers wins 5-4. Phil Hughes pitched a second time this season with the Miracle and grabbed the win. His line: 5 innings, 3 hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.

— Martin Schlegel (@mschlegel34) April 15, 2018

Good to hear. Let’s hope that his feeling-better equates to pitching better. Despite starting his Twins’ tenure strong, his last two (shortened) seasons have been brutal.

Phil Hughes’ Twins Career: