StarTribune.com

Hughes’ impressive start slowed by injury

Posted on May 14th, 2008 – 3:31 PM
By La Velle

I was cruising around the worldwide web today and found this update about Class AA New Britain’s Luke Hughes.

Hughes has a 16-game hitting streak and was the Eastern League’s player of the month in April but hasn’t played in about a week because of a sore hamstring. I’m guessing they didn’t anticipate him being out this long because he could have been placed on the seven-day DL.

I just checked, and Hughes took batting practice yesterday and felt much better but he isn’t in the lineup tonight against Binghamton. Tomorrow is a late morning game, so they may hold him out until Friday.

Will post today’s lineups in a separate thread once I get them.

29 Responses to "Hughes’ impressive start slowed by injury"

BC of ND says:

May 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

Len 3 thanks for the update so hows young Mr Hughes with the glove? If he keeps hitting like this how long before they move him up?

Ben says:

May 14th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

Could we eventually see Buscher up w/ the twins and Hughes with Rochester?

Shawn in Binghamton says:

May 14th, 2008 at 3:54 pm

Too Bad, i went last night and tonight and would like to see him play. He was 4-5 last time he was here.

BC of ND says:

May 14th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

Shawn hows his defense and speed? Does he have big league potential?

Shawn in Binghamton says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

Speed is good. He played DH the game i saw. I heard he isn’t great defensively. At the plate, he looked really good. Had a plan and a good swing. I don’t know if he will be a star, but it really doesn’t look like this years numbers are an anomoly either. I did only see 1 game however.

Shawn in Binghamton says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

Plouffe played 3rd last night. I wonder if he doesn’t have enough range at SS? Also, the organization doesn’t have much in the pipe at 3B.

The New and Improved Craig says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

Hughes has been playing quite a bit in CF. Most all of his most recent games. The Twins might have decided his future is in the OF.

The Black Avenger of the Spanish Main says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

I’m putting the Garrett Atkins countdown at 63 days

bisonaudit says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:17 pm

When’s Franchise scheduled to throw again, Friday?

jimmy bee says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:18 pm

The Black Avenger of the Spanish Main says

Tom Sawyer anyone

The New and Improved Craig says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

Span might be the only prospect in AAA, but the Twins have some good looking players in AA. Besides Hughes, Tolleson is a nice middle infield prospect. Plouffe at SS or 3B, can play. Dustin Martin is another OF prospect, and Butera is a legit major league catching prospect.

I think one guy to watch is Brian Dinkelman at Ft. Myers. He’s a 2B. He probably needs to be playing at a higher level.

Seth knows about all these guys. A lot more than I do.

Doug Munson says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

LEN3

What are the Twins thoughts on Danny Valencia down in FM? I see he is off to a good start at the plate, .320+ avg 4HR 13 doubles and 2 tpiples.Is he in the Twins future at 3B?

Jason says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

How about this idea…at what point do we pull the trigger on Lamb and make Brian Buscher our 3B????

The New and Improved Craig says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Oh! I forgot to mention Toby Gardenhire. Sorry, skip.

Toby is playing 3B at AA and is the heir apparent to the big league job (heh, heh).

JJ says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Lineups anyone?

The New and Improved Craig says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

“How about this idea…at what point do we ………………… make Brian Buscher our 3B????”

NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Black Avenger of the Spanish Main says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

right on target jimmy bee.

The New and Improved Craig says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:35 pm

Hey Jason,

We will make Buscher the 3B, when Lew Ford returns to play CF.

dano says:

May 14th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

i dont know if you saw this but this is a good Mock draft for the baseball draft

http://www.dcprosportsreport.com/MLBMocks.htm

OICU812 says:

May 14th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

His D must still be a little shakey he has 5 errors.

Can’t wait to see him in the bigs!!!

Power is important despite what some reactionary purests and Gardy might tell you.

Someone tell Delmon to pull the ball please….if your going to replace 48 then you must try to pull the ball way too much.

Humpty dumpster says:

May 14th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

can’t wait to see him in the bigs

RyanW says:

May 14th, 2008 at 5:50 pm

I am interested to see if Hughes can keep the power numbers up. Obviously he can not sustain his average, but if he can keep his SLG up, he could turn into a pretty good player.

But to be honest, I am just as impressed with Dustin Martin and Steve Tolleson at AA… out of those 3 we might have a player or two…

David says:

May 14th, 2008 at 6:05 pm

Casilla is starting at SS tonight…..

Tony says:

May 14th, 2008 at 6:19 pm

Lineups

Toronto (19-22)

1. Wilkerson RF
2. Hill 2B
3. Rios CF
4. Rolen 3B
5. Stairs DH
6. Overbay 1B
7. Stewart LF
8. Zaun C
9. Scutaro SS

Pitcher Roy Halladay

Twins

1. Gomez CF
2. Tolbert 2B
3. Mauer C
4. Morneau 1B
5. Cuddyer RF
6. Kubel DH
7. Young LF
8. Lamb 3B
9. Casilla SS

Starting Pitcher: Boof Bonser

AaronK says:

May 14th, 2008 at 6:27 pm

I am excited to see this lineup out…let’s see how that duo up the middle looks with Castilla and TOlbert…that could be our future.

SethSpeaks says:

May 14th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

wish I would have seen this post earlier. Great stuff. Hughes pulled the hamstring one night rounding 2nd and heading toward 3B. Some were confused because easlier in the game, he had fouled a ball off of his foot, so I think that’s why people thought he might be out a short time.

Hughes is a decent prospect. I have to be honest though, he was a utility guy in New Britain last year, and even though he made the All-Star team, I have never put him in my Top 50 Twins prospects lists. The two previous years in FM, he hit well below .250. The HR were impressive, hopefully he can come back soon.

A couple of other notes on some of the comments above… my opinion…

Brian Buscher is not half the player as Mike Lamb. He won’t ever be the team’s regular 3B. He’s a PH, at best.

I think Valencia is a very legit prospect. He’s got the average. I’d like to see him hit for more power, but that could be the big ball parks in the FSL. I think he’ll be up in New Britain in a month or so.

Dinkelman should go up with him. He’s a great leadoff hitter.

At New Britain. I like Brock Peterson. I think he should replace Randy Ruiz in Rochester soon. Erik Lis has definitely come on after a very slow start. Dustin Martin may be legit. Drew Butera will never hit, but he apparently must be a great glove guy. I really like Plouffe too, as a SS. He plays some 3B because the Twins insist on a second position, at least.

herb says:

May 19th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

I think Matt Tolbert should be in the lineup everyday when he comes back from his injury. He has helped the team tremendously with good defense, stolen bases, and a good hitting average for a rookie. Tolbert is a good switch hitter, which allows alot more value to the lineup.

herb says:

May 19th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

I think Cuddyer playing CF is rather humorous. He is clumsy and over-rated as an outfielder. Cuddyer should be traded for a third baseman who can hit with power. Denard Span should be brought up to play right field and add alot more genuine speed to the lineup. Span also hits for a higher average than Cuddyer. Cuddyer is very weak in the clutch.

herb says:

May 19th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

I think that Luke Hughes could be put at third base since the hitting is weak there. With the addition of Hughes, Span and Tolbert to the everyday lineup, the Twins would be much more interesting and competitive. I would also consider bringing up Jose Morales as the back up catcher and releasing Redmond, who cannot hit or run. Morales is a very good switch hitting catcher who should be given more major league experience.