MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins placed right-hander Phil Hughes on the 60-day disabled list Tuesday because of a recurrence of thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms. He is expected to miss the rest of the 2017 season.
Hughes underwent season-ending surgery last July to correct thoracic outlet syndrome. A rib that was causing nerve and vascular impingement in his throwing shoulder was removed. He kept the rib as a souvenir.
Only half the rib was removed in last year's procedure, however, and Greg Pearl, the surgeon who performed the surgery, had told Hughes that another operation might be needed.
"It was kind of in the back of everybody's mind for a while," Hughes told reporters.
Hughes said he is trying not to think about his career possibly being over.
"I try not to think that way," he told reporters. "It's been a rough go the last few years. I try not to let my mind wander that way. I try to take it with what I can do now and focus on that. It has been frustrating, even disheartening a little bit, but I try not to think that way."
Hughes recovered from the thoracic outlet syndrome procedure for a spot in the rotation to begin the season, but he went on the DL earlier this year after complaining of a "dead feeling" in his pitching shoulder. He returned as a reliever earlier this month and made five appearances, but he was unable to pitch more than one or two innings before losing feeling in his fingers.
Hughes has a 5.87 ERA in 14 games (nine starts) and has a 4-3 record for the Twins this season.
"The symptoms were still there, at least to some degree," manager Paul Molitor said. "We haven't been able to stretch him out to see just how far he could go, and our focus is to try and have a healthy Phil Hughes heading into the camp next year."
The Twins recalled veteran right-hander Bartolo Colon in a corresponding move. Colon, 44, made his Minnesota debut when he started Tuesday night's game against the New York Yankees.
Hughes is making $13.2 million this season, as part of a three-year, $42 million contract extension he signed after a strong debut season with the Twins in 2014. Since then, his career has been derailed by injuries. But the Twins will owe him another $13.2 million in 2018 and 2019, so there's plenty of reason to give Hughes time to consult with doctors again and figure out the best way to return his arm to full strength.
Hughes had a long talk Monday with Molitor, chief baseball officer Derek Falvey, general manager Thad Levine and pitching coach Neil Allen about the practicality of him trying to contribute as a mop-up reliever and the likelihood of another procedure.
"It all points to something's going to happen in that regard, and therefore, you're looking at potentially a two-to-four-month rehab," Molitor said. "I think it would be very unrealistic to think that he's going to have a chance to pitch this year. We're trying to focus on next spring."
A 31-year-old right-hander, Hughes pitched for the Yankees from 2007 to 2013 then signed a $24 million, three-year contract with Minnesota. The Twins liked him so much that they signed him to a $58 million, five-year deal in December 2014.
Hughes is 88-79 in 10 major league seasons, including 32-29 with the Twins. He was the Twins' Opening Day starter in 2015.
In other moves Tuesday, the Twins activated left-handed reliever Craig Breslow from the DL and optioned first baseman Kennys Vargas to Rochester. Vargas is hitting .244 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.