Minnesota Twins Place Phil Hughes on 60 Day Disabled List

After undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, Phil Hughes was hoping to return to form for the Minnesota Twins. On Tuesday, he was placed immediately on the 60 day disabled list after experiencing the same symptoms.

Last year was a lost season for Phil Hughes. He had a dozen relatively mediocre outings, posting a 1-7 record with a 5.95 ERA and a 1.508 WHiP, struggling to miss bats with any consistency. However, there there appeared to be an explanation for those struggles, as he was eventually sidelined for the year with thoracic outlet syndrome. Hughes would have part of a rib removed, in hopes that he would be able to pitch without pain and become effective again.

This season has been more of the same. While Hughes has a 4-3 record, he has also posted a 5.87 ERA and a 1.584 WHiP this year. In his 53.2 innings of work, surrounding a stint on the disabled list, Hughes has struck out 38 batters against 13 walks. The command has been there, but he has been quite hittable, allowing 72 hits in that span.

Yet, there was hope that Hughes would be able to rediscover himself as a reliever. Using his fastball and changeup combination, he was set to reinvent himself as a middle relief arm. That is, until Tuesday, when Hughes was suddenly shut down and placed on the 60 day disabled list with a recurrence of those thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms.

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Presently, Hughes is seeking second opinions, hoping to stave off surgery and to return this season. If he does undergo surgery, the remaining portion of the removed rib would be taken out of his chest. It would give him yet another interesting memento from his playing days, if nothing else.

The fact that he is having a recurrence of those symptoms has to be concerning, not just for the Twins, but for Hughes as well. Given the checkered track record of those pitchers that underwent the procedure for TOS currently, the idea that he may need to undergo a second procedure may not bode well for his future with the Twins.

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Phil Hughes is likely to be shut down for the rest of the year. If the Minnesota Twins pitcher has to undergo another procedure for TOS, his career may be in question.