Report: Hughes hopes to return to Yankees

New York -- Pitcher Phil Hughes looks forward to returning to the New York Yankees after suffering hamstring and ankle injuries this season.

The team's top pitching prospect hurt his left hamstring May 1 in a near no-hitter against the Rangers at Arlington, Texas, and then hurt his left ankle in a rehab start for Class-A Tampa Monday.

"It's not the same New York, but it's encouraging," the rookie right-hander told The New York Times after a workout Wednesday.

"I'm a little bit closer right now," he said as he stood before his locker in the Yankee clubhouse. "You don't really think about it too much. You keep pretty focused, because you don't really have anything to do except concentrating on getting better. It's frustrating sometimes because you're out for so long, and you just want to be playing somewhere."

Hughes is scheduled to pitch for Double-A Trenton Friday night.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.