Phil Hughes is becoming an ace for the Minnesota Twins, and is providing a glimpse of hope for what is to come in the future. 

Hughes went eight innings and allowed two runs against New York in his return to Yankee Stadium on Sunday. The Twins lineup gave him a boost, too, scoring six runs in the ninth make him a winner.

On the season, he's 6-1 with a 3.12 ERA, and has struck out 56 batters. Hughes started the year with two no-decisions, and a loss, but since April 15, he has pitched six innings or more and gave up three runs or less.

Hughes is taking command on the mound by striking out batters, and walking very few. In six of 11 starts, he has struck out six or more, and has only walked eight total batters all year. In fact in May, he walked no one in five starts.

The right-hander has helped improve their pitching rotation after ranking second to last in ERA (4.55), 26th in wins (66), last in strikeouts and batting average against opponents, (985 and .280) a year ago.

With the early success of Hughes in 2014, Twins fans can be optimistic, and hopeful that there is greener grass on the horizon because a few of their top minor league pitching prospects are having similar accomplishments.

Jose Berrios, the team's No. 5 pitching prospect was named the Pipeline Pitching Prospect of the Week. For the Fort Meyers Miracle, he retired his first 13 batters while striking out 13 in seven innings on Sunday. He's 5-2 with a 2.24 ERA this season.

The Twins' other top prospect is 6'9" right-hander, Alex Meyer, who is in Triple-A Rochester. He's 3-1 with a 3.31 ERA with 62 strikeouts this year.

 

Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins vs San Diego Padres
Denis Poroy/Getty Images
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