TFD: Delmon Young is still a really bad outfielder, the Phillies are just noticing

Good times

April 23, 2013 at 11:52AM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Per the Philadelphia Inquirer on Delmon Young, who is on an injury rehab assignment for the Phillies (thanks to Twitter follower Tom for the heads up):

Delmon Young's journey to become the Phillies' starting right fielder took another step Sunday when he donned a Clearwater Threshers uniform. His official minor-league rehab assignment started, and if the initial results are any indication, improvement is required.

The first Lakeland Flying Tigers batter hit a fly ball at Young and it landed for a triple. Young should have limited the hitter to a single had he taken a better route, said two officials who attended the game in Lakeland, Fla. Later, in the seventh inning, Young committed a fielding error that allowed a runner to take an extra base.

He batted cleanup in single-A Clearwater's lineup and went 1 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and single. While the Phillies are evaluating Young's bat, they are primarily concerned with his defense.

"Obviously we want his bat, but if he can't play defense he can't play in the National League," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "He's going to have to be adequate out there. Until today he hadn't screwed up any balls, but today he did. ... He's got to play adequate defense out there for us in right."

Seven balls were hit Young's way and he misplayed those two.

Keep hoping, Ruben. It could always be worse:

http://apps.startribune.com/blogs/user_images/randmid_1366669775_randmid_1351110411_randmid_1334355016_DELMON-YOUNG_2.gif
http://apps.startribune.com/blogs/user_images/randmid_1366669775_randmid_1351110411_randmid_1334355016_DELMON-YOUNG_2.gif (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Michael Rand

Columnist / Reporter

Michael Rand is the Minnesota Star Tribune's Digital Sports Senior Writer and host/creator of the Daily Delivery podcast. In 25 years covering Minnesota sports at the Minnesota Star Tribune, he has seen just about everything (except, of course, a Vikings Super Bowl).

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