Phil Hughes (baseball)

Phil Hughes (born June 24, 1986) is a former American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (2007-2013), Minnesota Twins (2014-2018), and San Diego Padres (2018).

Hughes was drafted by the Yankees in the first round of the 2004 MLB draft. He quickly ascended through their minor league system, earning recognition as one of baseball's top pitching prospects. He made his MLB debut in 2007.

With the Yankees, Hughes initially served as a starting pitcher and later transitioned to a role in the bullpen, particularly as a setup man. He was a member of the Yankees' 2009 World Series championship team.

In 2014, Hughes signed with the Minnesota Twins as a free agent. He returned to a starting role with the Twins and experienced success early in his tenure, including signing a contract extension. However, his performance declined in later seasons with Minnesota, partly due to injuries and thoracic outlet syndrome.

He was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2018. Hughes retired from professional baseball following the 2018 season.