If there was only one legitimate major-league prospect in the Bay Area it would probably be this lanky 6-foot-1 right-handed pitcher from Morgan Hill, who besides throwing in the low-90's can tear the cover off a baseball with aluminum in hand. Plus, he does it against the top competition in Northern California and the Bay Area since Valley Christian doesn't schedule too many gimmes and the West Catholic Athletic League competition is second to none in the state.
"Jon is the real deal and a major reason we got a second CCS title," said Warrior coach John Diatte whose teams have won the past two CCS Division I championships and finished second three years ago.
No wonder there were several times this season when, according to the San Jose Mercury News, several major-league scouts and their radar guns could be seen at Valley Christian games.
How about this for a major factor? Against a Serra (San Mateo) team loaded with power-hitters, he decisively won the CCS D1 semi-final matchup with his WCAL Co-Most Valuable Player foe, pitcher Ryan Allgrove of the Padres, in a 5-1 complete game win.
The Santa Clara-bound Hughes allowed five hits and struck out eight, and the only run he gave up came on a sixth inning RBI single by Serra cleanup hitter Ryan Palermo after the game was long decided.
In the championship game, also against a WCAL and cross-town rival, Mitty (San Jose), Hughes combined with Anthony Kupbens to shut out the Monarchs in a 1-0 title-game victory.
Earlier this season, we got to see Hughes' hitting prowess first hand in a game against Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) on historic Funston Field at Moscone Park in San Francisco.
He doesn't know it but some old-timers say "Joltin" Joe DiMaggio was the only one who could hit the old clubhouse some 400-plus feet from home plate when he played at Funston back in the 1930's.
Well, Hughes came close in the first inning when he blasted a ball to the part of the field near the now remodeled building farthest from home plate, which bounced just short of making contact. The 380—foot shot for a triple cleared the bases, knocking in three runs.
That was just one for the highlight reel in a season of many big performances. The totals by Hughes for the CCS playoffs and the season are as follows.
In the four-game CCS playoffs, he had a .583 batting average on 7-for-12 with two doubles, five RBI and six runs scored. His pitching record was 3-0 with a 0.57 ERA on one run surrendered in 12 1/3 innings, 13 strikeouts and two walks.
For the season, Hughes had a 14-1 record on the mound with a 0.82 ERA. He gave up only 10 earned runs in 85 1/3 inning pitched with 83 strikeouts and 24 walks. As a batter he hit .432 on 41 hits in 95 at-bats, 35 RBIs, 10 doubles, one triple, a home run and 23 runs scored.
A lot of young men we've interviewed with this kind of ability and talent are thinking major-league all the way. Not Hughes, who has a more pragmatic view.
"I have a hundred and eighty thousand dollar education awaiting me at Santa Clara so if I'm offered (by MLB) it will have to be a pretty sweet deal for me to defer my education," said Hughes, who has had some definite interest from big league clubs, including the Oakland Athletics. "My best shot is going to college, getting stronger, increasing my velocity, and maybe I might get drafted as a junior. Besides, I'm still having fun playing baseball and college and baseball are fun and something I'm not sure I want to miss."
Plus, if he goes to Santa Clara his fans will still be able to come watch him play. That would be his family, and particularly his biggest fans, 12-year old twin brothers Zack and Ben, who attend every game unless they have a practice of their own.
Father Daryll, who owns an underground construction company, and played football and basketball at Milpitas High, is a big support, as is mother Debbie, who played basketball at Warner Pacific College in Portland. She is currently a substitute teacher at Morgan Hill Charter School when not helping Daryll run the construction business.
Jon also has a sister, Katelynn, a freshman at Valley Christian who plays soccer and softball.
"My goal is definitely to play professional baseball but right now I'm thinking about Santa Clara, playing ball there, majoring in business and preparing myself to own my own business whether I play pro or not," Hughes told Cal-Hi Sports when asked about long term plans.
Santa Clara will certainly have a gem, if the pros don't make him an offer he can't refuse.
