KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- You could tell Phil Hughes' back was feeling better by the way he reacted to Kennys Vargas driving one of his fastballs into the famed fountains at Kauffman Stadium.
Hughes turned and admired Vargas' majestic shot until it landed Wednesday afternoon. Smiling, he even held up his hands in a combination of mock celebration and surrender.
That blow came on the 39th pitch Hughes threw in three simulated innings covering 45 total pitches against Twins hitters.
Chris Herrmann also turned on a Hughes fastball for a line-drive double to right in that same inning, but Hughes and Twins officials were more than pleased with how things went.