Rick Austin vs. Phil Hughes — Career Comparison

Phil Hughes built a career as a starting pitcher and Rick Austin as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Phil Hughes led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 204 vs 85), run prevention (ERA+ 97 vs 82), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 103 vs 88). Rick Austin held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 118 vs 102). Role difference aside, Phil Hughes holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.