Dusty Hughes #31

Resides in Horn Lake, MS with his wife, Jennifer (Mitchell), daughter, Kaylen, and son, Easton...Is a 2000 graduate of Horn Lake (MS) High School, earning all-conference and team MVP honors as a junior and senior...Attended Delta State University in Cleveland, MS and was named to the second-team All-Gulf South Conference in 2002 after going 2-2 with a 2.04 ERA and seven saves...Led the Statesmen to the Division II World Series in 2001 and 2002...Was America Baseball Coaches Association/All-South Central Region Second-Team in 2003...Graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2006 with a degree in Marketing...Originally selected by the Florida Marlins in the 50th round of the 2002 June free agent draft... Signed by Mark Willoughby (Royals).

2011

Made the Twins Opening Day roster and made his Twins debut on 4/1 at TOR, allowing three runs on three hits in 1.0 inning of relief...Had two stints with the Twins during the season and posted a 9.95 ERA (12.2 ip, 14 er) in 15 relief appearances with MIN. Allowed two-or-more runs on six different occasions...Was outrighted off MIN's 40-man roster, 6/15, making room for Tsuyoshi Nishioka...Won three games in four relief appearances for Rochester (AAA) from 7/1-7...Posted a 2.60 (17.1 IP, 5 ER) with 21 strikeouts in 11 August games for the Red Wings...Finished at Rochester with a record of 3-1, 4.29 (56.2 IP, 27 ER) with 68 strikeouts, 24 walks and one save in 43 games (two GS). His 43 appearances were tied for second-most on the Wings staff with Carlos Gutierrez.

2010

Spent his first full season in the Major Leagues, appearing in 57 games...second-most games for an American League rookie reliever (Texas' Neftali Feliz - 70)...Earned his first Major League win, May 14 vs. Chicago (AL), tossing 1.0 scoreless inning with one hit and one strikeout in a Royals win...Did not allow a run in eight consecutive appearances (6.1 ip), June 5-26, allowing just five hits and two walks in that span...Posted an ERA of 1.35 (20.0 ip, 3 er) in his final 18 games, July 27-October 3...held opponents to a .230 (17-for-74) batting average with no home runs in that span...Allowed just three home runs in 56.1 innings pitched on the season...posted a 3.03 ERA with nine walks in 28 home games...Finished second on the Royals staff in appearances, behind Joakim Soria's 66...10th in the American League in games by a lefty reliever...Posted an ERA of 2.97 (33.1 ip, 11 er) in 34 games against AL Central opponents...posted an ERA of 2.03 (13.1 ip, 3 er) in 10 appearances against Minnesota...held the Twins lefties to a .143 (3-for-21) batting average...Made six winter ball starts for the Senadores de San Juan in the Puerto Rico Winter League, going 3-2, 6.99 (28.1 ip, 22 er) with 18 strikeouts... went 3-1, 3.32 (21.2 ip, 8 er) with 17 strikeouts in his first four starts.

2009

Had his contract selected from Omaha on September 5...made his Major League debut on September 6 vs. Los Angeles...after allowing an inherited run, he struck out 5 over 4.1 scoreless innings...Made his first Major League start on September 19 at Chicago...suffered the loss after allowing 3 runs on 5 hits over 4.1 IP.

2008

Started the season with Double-A Northwest, appearing in 20 games (four starts)...went 4-0, 2.63 (24.0 ip, 7 er) in six games (two starts) in May...transferred to Triple-A Omaha, June 18...won in his first start with Omaha, June 22 at New Orleans, pitching 6.0-shutout innings with two hits allowed...season-high of 7.0 innings, July 19 vs. Round Rock, allowing just one run while earning his second victory...pitched for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League, going 3-1, 2.56 (38.2 ip, 11 er) with 31 strikeouts in 11 games (seven starts).

2007

Spent the season with Single-A Wichita...won his final five decisions, July 14-August 29 (all starts), including a nine-strikeout performance in his final win, August 29 at Springfield (6.0 ip)...tossed 8.0-shutout innings with three hit allowed, September 3 at Tulsa...posted a 3.73 ERA (41.0 ip, 17 er) before the All-Star break and a 2.69 ERA (67.0 ip, 20 er) Post-All-Star break...played for the Surprise Rafters in the Arizona Fall League following the 2007 season, going 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in six starts and was named the league's Pitcher of the Year in a fan vote...named Wichita Pitcher of the Year.

2006

Missed the entire season recovering from "Tommy John" surgery on his left elbow.

2005

Spent the season with High Desert (A), appearing in all 19 games as a starter...Won his first start, 4/7 vs. Lancaster, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits in 6.0 IP...Struck out six-plus batters in nine of his 19 starts.

2004

Started the season with Single-A Burlington...Combined with Jake Mullis for a no-hitter, 4/12 vs. Wisconsin, making the start, tossing 8.0 no-hit innings...Won each of his first three starts, allowing one earned run on 21.0 IP (0.43 ERA) in that span...Transferred to Single-A Wilmington, 5/26...Tossed 8.0 shutout innings, with one hit allowed, August 5 at Potomac.

2003

Spent his first professional season with the AZL Royals...Ranked fourth in the league with a 2.84 ERA...Named Surprise Royals Pitcher of the Year.