Delmon

Young

Yes, you’re reading this correctly. The 35-year-old former major-league outfielder has made the transition to pitching in Australia and finally made his first appearance on the mound. He issued a pair of walks, but managed to induce an inning-ending twin-killing to keep the Brisbane Bandits off the scoreboard in the ninth inning. He last appeared in the major leagues with the Orioles back in 2015.

The 19-year-old hit .322 with 26 home runs and 115 RBI in 131 games at Single-A Charleston. He should be a fixture in the Tampa outfield by the end of the 2006 season. Chad Orvella, who jumped three levels this year and posted an unbelievable 116/10 strikeout to walk ratio, was chosen as the organization’s top pitcher.

He is batting .424 (14-33) for the month of May. Young, who is the Devil Rays’ top prospect, is worth owning in any type of keeper league.

He is batting .310 with team-highs of 21 home runs and 131 hits. Young also has an organization-high 97 RBI. The number one overall pick in the 2003 draft should start next season in High-A ball, and may earn a late season poromotion to Double-A. At this rate, Young could be in Tampa by the 2006 season, and be the team’s starting right fielder by 2007.

The Rays will seek to sign Young to a 2004 contract instead, meaning the soonest he can play for the organization is the Fall Instructional League. Each of the top five picks from June’s draft remains unsigned, waiting to see what kind of bonus the others get. Young has a scholarship offer from the University of Arizona but is expected to sign with the Rays eventually.

The Brewers’ signing of No. 2 pick Rickie Weeks has provided something of a barometer for other top picks to sign by. If Young is signed, he would be eligible to be called up when rosters expand in September. More likely, though, he would be eligible to play in the instructional league this fall.

A deal appears close. The 18-year-old would report to the instructional league in mid September and possibly go to the Arizona Fall League.

The Rays are believed to be offering the top overall pick in this year’s draft a major league contract worth in excess of $5 million.

Young returns to a Durham team having all sorts of problems. Elijah Dukes was suspended indefinitely for unspecified disciplinary reasons and B.J. Upton was arrested last week and charged with drunken driving. Even Durham’s manager, John Tamargo, was suspended 10 games for bumping an umpire.

Young smacked an RBI single to center field and finished the game 1-for-4. “I can wake up out of my sleep and get a base hit,” Young said. “Just competing [was fun]. If I had to come in and pitch two innings I would have done it.”