Delmon Young returns ...

DURHAM, N.C. - Devil Rays top prospect Delmon Young returned to the field on Monday night for the Triple-A Durham Bulls, having served a 50-game suspension for throwing his bat at an umpire on April 26.

   ""First of all, I'd like to apologize to the Devil Rays, the fans, my teammates and everyone out there for my actions back in April,'' Young said Monday afternoon at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

   Young, 20, spent much of his suspension working out in St. Petersburg and doing community service work that was part of the disciplinary action handed down.

   He said he learned from the experience and was eager to return to the field.

   ""I want to come out here and play baseball and come out here and have fun and try and move on with it,'' Young said.

   Young was expected to be called up to the major leagues at some point this season. How much the 50-game absence impacts those plans remains to be seen.

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Comments

[Tonka]

I can't believe it's already been 50 games. Wow.

[Renegade Tim]

Marc,Loved your line in the Sunday SPT, "Prospects Gone Wild". Throw in Josh Hamilton and you have alot of high school guys that appear to lack maturity. Is that the sole problem, bad luck, or do the D-Rays need a real drill sergeant down on the farm?

[lockBull]

Young should NOT be in the Majors this year. Period.I agree with "renegade tim". Between Young and Upton there's two big black eyes on that team. Tamargo has to go. He has no control and he makes excuses for his players.

[JB]

found other quotes via Baseball America Online story by Chris Kline. From Delmon:"You guys have no clue what Barry Bonds is going through. LeBron James . . . You got Shaq dealing with stuff just to win a championship . . . unless you guys put on the uniform and get to a very competitive level, you guys will never understand what athletes and entertainers go through on an everyday basis."So now he's putting himself in the rarified company of Bonds, Shaq and LeBron, as well as using the classically idiotic "step into my shoes" rebuke athletes have used against the media for years.And this description from the story: "Later, in the middle of an answer to another reporter, Young snapped at a female reporter to stop touching his leg."Maybe instead of songs from TI, the PA should play The Police's "Don't Stand So Close To Me" whenever Mr. Young comes to the plate. STOP TOUCHING MY LEG! STOP TOUCHING MY LEG! should get a lot of play in the Rays locker room.(sigh.)

[RICHIE RICARDO]

THE YOUNG LIONS: FUTURE RAYS OF HOPE! MAYBE THERE IS STILL A CHANCE TO SEE [CC, JOSH HAMILTON & ROCCO IN THE SAME OUTFIELD.] UPTON HAS DROPPED IN HITTING,HAS TOO MANY ERRORS. DUKES IS DEALING WITH ANGER PROBLEMS & DELMON YOUNG IS STILL YOUNG ..PLUS HE NEEDS TO REGAIN THE POWER STROKE. GATHRIGHT TOOK A STEP BACKWARDS. SO I'D LIKE TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL TRIO.