31 and counting

Dusty Hughes, the former Delta State left-hander who has battled through some adversity in his pro career, arrived in the big leagues for the first time over the weekend. And when he pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his debut for Kansas City on Sunday, the Tupelo native and former Horn Lake High hurler became the 31st Mississippi-connected player to make The Show this season. He is also the fourth DSU alum to appear in a big league game in 2009. Hughes, 27, was an 11th-round pick by the Royals in 2003. He missed all of the 2006 season after Tommy John surgery but reestablished himself in 2007 when he was named pitcher of the year in the Arizona Fall League. Having finally gotten the call-up to Kansas City, Hughes could hardly have done better his first time out. As manager Trey Hillman told the Kansas City Star: “… you kind of take extra notice of what you think their heart rate is, the look in their eyes. He wasn’t intimidated.”