It's now being reported that Phil Hughes' most recent CT scan taken last Thursday shows that his fractured rib has still not healed enough to resume throwing. Without knowing at least the grade of the fracture, it's impossible for us to say if Phil's healing at a slower than normal rate. What we do know is that the Yankees initially said he could be back in July so his recovery has obviously been delayed. Pencil Phil in for an August start if you're feeling lucky.

There is no medical definition for "injury prone" but we all know what it means. Repeated injuries usually to different parts of the body and those injuries generally tend to linger. It may be simply an unfortunate turn of events. It may be genetic. It may be that the player has not taken enough responsibility for his own body. There are many other variables you can take into account before labeling a player as injury-prone such as age, position or style of play. Phil Hughes has become the very definition for the simple fact that since he was taken in the 2004 draft, he has been injured at some point during 4 of those 5 seasons.Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

July 2004 - Phil makes his first start as a future Yankee. He's shut down with elbow stiffness the next day.
August 2004 - Phil breaks his toe running in the hallway of his hotel to answer his cell phone.
June 2005 - To the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis.
2006 - A year to remember. Phil pitched 146 innings and avoided the DL.
May 2007 - That damn hamstring. We blamed Marty Miller.
May 2007 - Suffers a grade 3 ankle sprain during rehabilitation. Does anything scream injury prone like getting injured in rehab?
May 2008 - Stress fracture to his rib. Still a mystery as to when and why that happened.
May 2008 - Is nearsightedness an injury?

None of those injuries in a vacuum look suspicious or are cause for concern. But then you look at the entire picture. We all hope Phil comes back, becomes the pitcher he's supposed to be and puts the injury bug behind him but if I was a betting woman, I wouldn't touch that one. Historically, past injury is often the best precursor of future injury.