Hughes Plays Show and Tell

Wearing a USC NCAA championship baseball T-shirt and shorts, Bobby Hughes hardly resembled your typical high school catcher as he fired the ball to second base Tuesday during Van Nuys Notre Dame’s infield practice at Grant High.

“He’s a big guy. He’s pretty impressive,” Notre Dame catcher Chris Scarlata said.

Hughes, the starting catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, was visiting family and friends in the Valley during the All-Star break, so he decided to stay in shape by working out with his old American Legion team.

At 6 feet 4 and 225 pounds, the 27-year-old Hughes towered over most of the Legion players. His throws were so powerful that everyone had a clear idea what kind of talent it takes to reach the major leagues. But Hughes offered much more advice to anyone willing to listen.

For six seasons, he was stuck in the minor leagues after being a second-round draft pick of the Brewers out of USC in 1992.

“I expected to get to the big leagues a lot faster,” he said. “I took a lot of things for granted and didn’t take the game as seriously as I should have. I became so offensive minded I didn’t worry about defense.”

Last year, at triple-A Tucson, everything started coming together. He played defense and he hit the ball. Then, during the off-season, he met Steve Zimm, a personal trainer based in Playa Del Rey. Zimm helped Hughes get into the best shape of his life. Hughes made the Brewers’ team during spring training.

On June 15, starting catcher Mike Matheny suffered a rib cage injury and Hughes moved into the lineup. He has started 17 of the past 18 games and is batting .255. Finally, the 1989 Notre Dame High graduate is proving he belongs in the majors.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “I’ve been taking it one day at a time, trying to learn and trying to absorb everything.”

The journey has not been easy.

“I always knew and [the Brewers] always knew I had plenty of athletic ability and talent,” he said. “They kept waiting for it to come out and I kept waiting for it to come out, too. There came a point in time where I felt I needed a change in scenery. It’s been a blessing in disguise, because the whole experience has made me a better player and better person.

“It’s a long process. It’s something if you take for granted, it will be pulled out from underneath you faster than you think.”

Hughes is a good friend of Notre Dame Legion Coach Jody Breeden and plans to purchase new uniforms for the team next season. One of Hughes’ Brewer teammates is former Providence and USC third baseman Jeff Cirillo.

Asked what Cirillo will say about his new USC NCAA championship T-shirt, Hughes replied, “He’ll see this and he’ll complain [he wants one].”

Hughes is thankful he could return to the Valley as a major leaguer.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said.