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oung suspended 50 games for throwing bat at umpire
Tue May 9, 2006 8:00pm ET11
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tampa Bay Devil Rays prospect Delmon Young was suspended for 50 games without pay by the International League (IL) on Tuesday for throwing his bat at an umpire and hitting him in the chest.

Young, the first overall pick in the 2003 draft and 2005 Baseball America minor league player of the year, threw his bat at the replacement umpire after being called out during a game on April 27.

The umpire, whose name has not been released, was working at the game as a replacement official for minor league umpires, who have been on strike. The bat went off his chest and arm and the video of the incident has been shown throughout North America.

IL President Randy Mobley said it was the longest recorded suspension in the league's 123-year history.

"The goal in reviewing this very serious matter was to arrive at a fair and just action against Mr. Young," Mobley said in a statement.

"With the 50-game suspension, longer than any other uncovered in the league's 123-year history, and significant fine as a result of the loss of salary, I believe this has been accomplished."

Young, 20, playing for Durham at the time in a game at Pawtucket, R.I., co-operated with league officials during the investigation, according to IL officials. He also agreed to serve 50 hours of community service as part of his punishment.

Considered to be one of the top young prospects in all of baseball, Young is the brother of Detroit Tigers' Dmitri Young. The suspension is retroactive from April 27, so he can return to play on June 19.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto)

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

too light

Especially since it's retroactive. I can't help but think Delmon Young Future Star helped him out.

So throwing a bat at an umpire is morally equivalent to using steroids?

Yeah, that makes sense.

Nobody is questioning the morality of either...one is cheating, the other is being a hothead and potentially causing harm to an umpire.