Yankees pitcher Hughes faces long layoff

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees could be without pitcher Phil Hughes for months after tests revealed he had a fractured rib, the team said on Thursday.

The injury was initially believed to be a strained muscle in his right side, with Hughes being placed on the 15-day disabled list. However, tests showed the young right-hander has a stress fracture of his ninth rib on the right side.

"He's going to be down for four weeks before he can do anything," manager Joe Girardi told reporters before Thursday's game against the Detroit Tigers.

"It's going to take some time. He'll have some more scans in four weeks and we'll see where it's at and we'll go from there."

Hughes said he was shocked when doctors told him he had a stress fracture of his rib.

"I thought they were joking," he told reporters at his locker after the game.

The Yankees will call up right-hander Darrell Rasner from the team's Triple A affiliate to replace Hughes, general manager Brian Cashman told reporters.

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