Hot off the press: Hughes starting Thursday

The top pitching prospect in baseball, Phil Hughes, will make his long-awaited Bronx debut on Thursday night against Toronto.

Hughes has started three games for Triple-A Scranton, compiling a 3.94 era with 11 hits, four walks and 17 strikeouts in 16 innings. After getting shelled on April 12, he dominated his next (and last) start on April 18 - 6 ip, 2 h, 0 bb, 10 k.

This move seems panicky. Why not Ohlendorf, Desalvo or Clippard, who all, despite having inferior 'stuff,' have far more professional innings under their belt, i.e. experience. That trio has pitched an average of 454.2 innings in their minor league careers, while Hughes has pitched 200 fewer innings (253.1). (DeSalvo 453.1 ip, Ohlendorf 383.2 ip, Clippard 527.1 ip.)