Delmon Young Must See Doctor Over Drunken Fight
Delmon Young, the Detroit Tigers outfielder who was arrested in New York for allegedly attacking a group of men and making anti-Semitic remarks, will be evaluated by a health care professional.
Young will be evaluated Monday because he was intoxicated during the incident last Friday outside the Hilton in Midtown Manhattan, where he was staying before the start of a series with the New York Yankees that night. Under the guidelines provided for by Major League Baseball’s basic agreement, any player involved in an incident that also involves alcohol must go for an assessment.
The evaluation could result in a treatment program, or possibly a fine or suspension either by Major League Baseball or the team.
Young, who was placed on the restricted list on Friday night, could return to action immediately, The New York Times reported.
“I don’t know if I will find out Monday,” Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski told the Times. “But assuming I would find out Monday, if he is cleared to play, then he will play. Because that is the arrangement that is involved.”
According to The Associated Press, a group of tourists staying at the hotel were approached by a panhandler wearing a yarmulke. According to the New York Post, Young yelled anti-Semitic epithets at the group. Young also reportedly shoved one of the men, who sustained minor injuries.
Young faces a misdemeanor aggravated harassment hate crime charge. He was taken to the hospital after the incident.
A New York Police Department spokesman told the Post that it was unclear whether the alleged victim, described as a 32-year-old male, was Jewish.
Young, who endured a 50-game suspension in 2006 for throwing a bat at an umpire, apologized for the New York incident in a news release.
The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement saying it was “deeply disturbed” by reports of the player’s outburst.
“Bigoted words are unbecoming for any professional sports player and anti-Semitism certainly has no place in the game, either on or off the field,” the group said.
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