Phil Hughes forced from game one out shy of $500K bonus

Wednesday's Twins-Diamondbacks game had no playoff implications, but it was not meaningless for Twins starter Phil Hughes. Hughes entered the day with 201.2

Wednesday's Twins-Diamondbacks game had no playoff implications, but it was not meaningless for Twins starter Phil Hughes.

Hughes entered the day with 201.2 innings pitched, needing 25 outs to trigger a $500,000 bonus for pitching 210 innings. Hughes pitched eight innings of one-run ball, but was pulled after a one-hour rain delay between the eighth and ninth innings. 

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With four games left on the schedule, Hughes is not scheduled to pitch again this season. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Hughes will not pitch out of the bullpen this weekend, according to MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger.

"I was very aware of it, but some things aren't meant to be," Hughes said, according to Bollinger.

Hughes had already earned separate $250,000 bonuses for pitching 180 and 195 innings, according to Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press.

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Hughes' previous career high for innings pitched was 191.1 in 2012. He finishes the season with the record for most strikeouts per walk at 11.31. 

- Dan Gartland