Long, winding road leads Hughes to 51s

When 51s utilityman Luke Hughes was 16, he quit baseball to pursue a career in Australian Rules Football.

The native of Perth, Australia changed his mind a few months later, when Major League Baseball opened an academy in his homeland, and the decision paid off when the Minnesota Twins signed him in 2002.

Hughes, 28, homered in his first big-league at-bat for Minnesota in 2010 and played 96 games for the Twins last season, but he has second-guessed his decision to pursue a professional baseball career far from home many times in the past 10 years, which have mostly been spent in the minors.

"Especially when you go through the tough times and ups and downs," he said. "It's pretty tough being away from home and missing various things throughout the season."

Hughes has been put through the baseball ringer this year. He opened the season with the Twins, but was designated for assignment after playing four games to make room for pitcher Jason Marquis. He was claimed off waivers by Oakland, which also designated him for assignment after four games to clear space for third baseman Brandon Inge.

After clearing waivers, Hughes sandwiched two stints at Triple-A Sacramento around a disappointing demotion to Double-A Midland before he was released July 17.

Hughes was preparing to play in the independent Atlantic League when the Blue Jays signed him to a minor-league free-agent contract Aug. 1.

"It's definitely been an interesting year," he said. "It was a bit of a big downhill spiral and I was kind of letting it affect me on the field and off, but I've turned the page on all the negatives that have happened this year and I'm focusing on the positive stuff.

"I've got back to why we play the game, and that's to enjoy it and have fun."

The easygoing Hughes has thrived for the 51s (69-53), batting .361 (13-for-36) with two homers and seven RBIs while hitting safely in all 10 games he has played.

He went 1-for-3 with a single, walk and two RBIs in Monday's 14-7 win over the Iowa Cubs at Cashman Field, homered and tripled among his four hits in Sunday's doubleheader and lined a walk-off RBI single with two outs in the ninth Friday.

"I was lucky to come over and I'm having a blast here," he said. "Getting a chance to play every day over here is fantastic."

Hughes, a career .269 hitter in the minors who batted .229 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in 102 games for the Twins, credits 51s hitting coach Chad Mottola for helping him hone his swing.

"I've been working hard with Motor in the cages and it's been good for me," he said. "He's told me a couple things that have clicked."

The versatile Hughes played first base, second base and third base for the Twins.

"I pride myself on being able to play different positions," he said. "I enjoy it."

He's already played five positions for Las Vegas, starting at second, third, shortstop, left field and center field, which he manned Monday.

"And he's been above average in all of them," Mottola said.

After doing some soul-searching this season, Hughes has decided he still has a lot more to give to the game.

Australian Rules Football will have to wait a little longer.

"When I'm done playing baseball, I'll go back and play footy for the fun of it for a few seasons," he said. "I'll enjoy it with a couple of my mates and play socially."

■ NOTE - 51s first baseman Mike McDade, a Silverado High School product, was placed on the disabled list with a pulled left hamstring and catcher Paul Phillips was activated. McDade, called up from Double-A New Hampshire on July 30, is batting .333 (16-for-48) for Las Vegas with a homer, triple, two doubles and 11 RBIs in 12 games.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.