PITTSBURGH — Moving into a relief role has agreed with right-hander Jared Hughes. So much in fact, that it got him a promotion from Double-A to Triple-A this season. And on Tuesday, the Pirates selected his contract from Triple-A Indianapolis adding him to the roster and gave him his first call to the big leagues.
“[Triple-A manager] Dean Treanor brought me into the office after the game yesterday,“ Hughes said. “He looked at me and said, ‘You know. You’re going to Pittsburgh.’ He was really excited. He was really happy. He had a big grin on his face. I had to call my parents, my sister, my finance. I had to tell everybody immediately. Everybody was just really happy.”
In 35 games (42.2 innings) with the Triple-A Indians, Hughes posted a 3-1 record with a 2.11 ERA.
“Our Triple-A staff banged the drum extremely hard for Hughes,“ Manager Clint Hurdle said. “Just his work throughout the season, the volume of work throughout the season, the consistency, the hard sink, late life on a fastball, some quick innings put away. It’s something they’ve seen a lot of. They saw this guy continually go out there and sink the ball with plus velocity and good command. We got to see him in Spring training. I shared that with him. I said, ‘Who would have thought when I shook your hand you were leaving in Philadelphia for the season that you would be back here in September? So congratulations, job well done.’”
Hughes, 26, was drafted in the 4th round of the 2006 draft by the Pirates.
“I’m ready to go,“ Hughes said. “I’m excited. I’m pumped up. I’m ready to get on that mound and throw some heaters.”
Photo credit: MILB
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