ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Top Tampa Bay prospect Delmon Young was suspended indefinitely by the International League on Thursday, a day after throwing a bat that hit a replacement umpire in the arm.
"The Devil Rays organization supports the decision," said Andrew Friedman, Tampa Bay's team's executive vice president of baseball operations.
The 20-year-old Young, brother of Detroit star Dmitri Young and considered one of the best players in the minors, was ejected in the first inning following a called third strike in the Durham
Bulls' Triple-A game at Pawtucket, R.I.
When Young took his time leaving the batter's box, the umpire
tossed him. Young then flipped his bat underhand and it sailed end
over end, striking the umpire. The umpire, whose name was not
released, did not appear injured and remained in the game.
"I sincerely regret my actions in the game yesterday," Young said in a statement released by the office of his agent, Arn
Tellem. "Regrettably, in the heat of the competition my emotions
got the better of me.
"My behavior was completely unacceptable. I want everyone to
know that I recognize that it is never right to throw a bat and I
certainly never intended for the bat to make contact with the
umpire. Nevertheless, I owe an apology to my team, the fans and
most importantly to the umpire, for the incident. I am sorry."
Regular minor league umpires are on strike this season. Fill-ins
umps -- most of them with college or high school experience -- have
been working in their place. Minor league teams are not releasing
the names of the replacements.
"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."
After the game, Durham manager John Tamargo said he hadn't spoke
to Young and hadn'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," he said.
Young left during the game and wasn't available for comment. The
outfielder was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft and
picked as the 2005 minor league player of the year by Baseball
America.
"We do not tolerate this type of conduct from anyone in the
Devil Rays organization," Friedman said. "We will meet with
Delmon and his representatives as soon as possible to further
address this unfortunate situation. It cannot and will not be
repeated."
Pawtucket catcher Corky Miller said he didn't 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," Miller added. "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."
Devil Rays utilityman Greg Norton, who was at the game, talked
about what happened after he was brought up Thursday and arrived at
Yankee Stadium.
"It wasn't violent, and I don't feel it was meant to hit him,"
he said.
In Double-A ball last year, Young was suspended for three games by the Southern League for bumping the chest of plate umpire Jeff Latter.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.