TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees starter Phil Hughes is set to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment.
The right-hander, out since April 15 because of inflammation in his right shoulder, is scheduled to throw around 65 pitches Sunday for Class-A Staten Island.
"I'm ready to go," Hughes said after throwing in the outfield on Saturday at the Yankees' spring training complex.
An All-Star last year when he went 18-8, Hughes was 0-1 with a 13.94 ERA in three starts this year. He struggled to reach 90 mph with his fastball, though the team initially chalked it up to the cold weather and his penchant for slow starts.
Infielder Eric Chavez, on the disabled list due to a broken left foot, took grounders and hit in a cage. He could take batting practice on the field in the next few days.
Derek Jeter, six hits short of 3,000 for his career, is getting treatment for a strained right calf. The Yankees placed the team captain on the 15-day DL Tuesday for the first time since 2003.
Injured left-hander's Pedro Feliciano (left shoulder tear) and Damaso Marte (left shoulder surgery) played catch. Right-hander Luis Vizcaino threw off a bullpen mound for the second time in three days.
Also, Dante Bichette Jr., taken 51st overall by the Yankees in this year's amateur draft, had an infield single in four at-bats as the designated hitter in a preseason Gulf Coast League game against Toronto minor leaguers. The son of former big leaguer Dante Bichette was a late defensive replacement at third base in Saturday's game.