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Durham Bulls Outfielder Suspended For Throwing Bat At Umpire

Apr 27, 2006

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Durham Bulls outfielder Delmon Young was suspended indefinitely on Thursday because he threw a bat into the chest of the home plate umpire after being called out on strikes in the first inning of Wednesday night's game at Pawtucket.

Young, a top prospect in the Tampa Bay organization, took a third strike on a 1-and-2 pitch. When Young delayed leaving the batter's box, the umpire ejected him. Young then flipped his bat underhand. It sailed end over end and hit the umpire in the chest.

Pawtucket catcher Corky Miller said he did not hear Young say anything to the umpire. "I heard the umpire say, 'You better get going,'" Miller said.

"It was hard to say what was going through his mind. Guys have emotions. But you try to learn how to control them. I'm sure as the bat left his hands he knew it was a bad decision," Miller said.

Young left during the game and was unavailable for comment afterward.

Officials with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who selected Young with the first overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft, said in a statement Thursday that they support the league's decision to suspend Young, and said that the "organization doesn't tolerate this type of conduct from anyone."

Replacement umpires have been working all minor league games this season because the regular umpires are on strike. Bill Wanless, a spokesman for the Pawtucket Red Sox, said minor league teams are not releasing the names of umpires while the regulars are on strike.

"It's an unfortunate incident and there should be no place for actions like that in the game of baseball," the umpire said in a statement released by Pawtucket. "Any official should not be treated like that. He embarrassed himself and his teammates."

Young, 20, is the younger brother of Detroit Tigers outfielder Dmitri Young. He was voted the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' minor league player of the year last season and the 2005 minor league player of the year by Baseball America.

This is not the first time that Young has been suspended for an incident with an umpire. Last year Delmon Young was suspended for three games for bumping an umpire.

"It was unfortunate and until I speak with the organization and see what they have in mind; maybe I can comment on it later," Durham manager John Tamargo said. "It's a tough situation right now.

"I haven't spoken with (Young) and haven't gotten his side of it. We've had some problems with different umpires and it's tough. But I can't say any more."

According to International League policy, the umpire will file a report with president Randy Mobley on Thursday. Mobley will read it, interview parties involved in the incident and decide what penalty should be assessed.

Without Young, the Bulls won Wednesday night, but lost Thursday 5-4.