Slow progress for Delmon Young
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Slow progress for Delmon Young
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
LAKELAND, Fla. — The spring games have begun, but Delmon Young has yet to take a real batting practice swing.
Young has started hitting side tosses, or flips, in the batting cage, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Sunday. Young's hitting has mostly been limited to tee work while he recovers from November microfracture surgery on his right ankle. He has played long toss. He has not run.
The 27-year-old outfielder is scheduled to visit a doctor in a week, Amaro said, with hopes of being cleared for more activity.
"I have no reason to rush the guy," Amaro said, "or pressure him into being back before he is ready."
Young is a near-certainty to begin 2013 on the disabled list. Eventually, he will attempt to play right field, a position he has not manned since 2007.
Jim Leyland, Young's former manager in Detroit, endorsed the idea of him returning to the field. Last season, Leyland started Young in the outfield just 29 times.
"I think as long as he's healthy he'll be fine," Leyland said. "If he has the ankle issues over, he'll be fine. [Phillies people] told me he really looks good.
"But I will tell you, this guy is a professional hitter. He was huge for us the last couple postseasons. He's smart. He knows hitting and he knows the game. He's a smart guy. He doesn't say a whole lot, but he's very bright."
The Phillies signed Young to a $750,000 deal in January. If he spends one day on the active roster, he will receive a $250,000 bonus.
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The previous editor's blurb to click to get here states "Slow progress for Phils' Young." I've seen similar headlines on Sixers stories, too. Somebody needs to inform these alleged sports editors that the Phils and 76ers have two guys named Young on their rosters: Michael and Delmon and Thaddeus and Nick. Is it too much to ask for a first initial in some of your headlines?— dglass1- Take all the time you need...— dasher
- this was a disastrous choice from the beginning. i guess the only peace we can find here is that its a mere $750K mistake.— theeducator
- Got a spare $750K?— philsfansince1946
- for $750K, not a disaster at all. Lets hope Brown and Ruf pans out, Young is healthy, hits and eventually and they move him for something. Best case scenario but really, for the money, he is decent chip that will be very easy to move if he performs.— TheLon
- One man's bad news is another's good news, so for Dom Brown...opportunity knocks.— drbob1
- Agreed drbob1. Dom just hit a bomb.— Joe Scarpati
- Looks like his appetite s still OK.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- This guy is a waste of God-given talent and unmotivated. Teams with players like Young are rarely successful and, while I would welcome really being surprised by him, I expect nothing but trouble if he hangs around. I would rather struggle a little with the younger guys than see this guy fill space. I wonder what he weighs these days.— hankhammer2
- relax delmon take your time better yet get arrested for awhile that way you can heal up in time for a stretch run— stayoutofphilly
- agree that for 750k its a reasonable gamble. also agree he could be a distraction and or a disaster waiting to happen, but for the money they can just let him go and be rid of him. the guy can hit and has been clutch. lets hope he has learned from his mistakes and plays and acts like a guy who wants to get a big time contract.— DG3
- actually, if dumb and dumber don't plant him in right field (or any field), getting him was a decent move. you'd rather have wiggington as your rh bench guy? and all the guff about a bad clubhouse influence: now that they got rid of the only jew they had, what kind of problems can he cause? besides, be worth 3/4 mill to see him whack an ump with a bat.— bubba church & granny hamner
- Say what you want but the guy is a major league hitter and sorely needed if the ankle is ok. And not a huge risk or a lot of money if he's not.— PhillySubsMac
- Delmon 'Bynum' Young!!— vietnamvet14
Delmon Young will be ready to grace us with his baseball skills when he decides he can fit "just right" in his beach wear. He basically told us as much with his enlightening commentary during his first Phils spring training appearance.
Until then, maybe he can hook up with Andrew with a few rounds of moonlight bowling once he comes up north...
