Delmon Young wins MVP of AL Championship Series
Designated hitter Delmon Young has perfect timing when it comes to showing his potential.
After his performance on Thursday in the last game of the AL championship series against the New York Yankees, Young was named the MVP.
On Thursday, Young batted .353 with two home runs and six RBIs for the Detroit Tigers, helping them win the game and sweep the series.
“He got hot again this year at the right time for us,” manager Jim Leyland said. “He stepped it up under the big lights. Not that they are not bright all year, but they are a little brighter this time of year. He stepped it up two consecutive years for us. And the MVP, what a tremendous honor for him.”
Although Young was on fire for the four-game series against the Yankees, he has had a rough year.
Back in April, Young was arrested, charged with a hate crime and suspended by Major League Baseball.
Young was accused of yelling anti-Jewish epithets at a group of tourists, tussling with them and tackling one to the ground while the Tigers were in town to play the Yankees.
Young was suspended for seven days without pay by the commissioner’s office.
Young has said he regrets what happened. His lawyer said the player reacted to something that was said to him. Young is free on $5,000 bond and due back in court November 7, after the World Series.
Sadly, this was not the first time he has been in trouble. In the minors, Young was suspended for 50 games in 2006 for infamously whipping his bat and hitting an umpire after he struck out looking.
This year though, Young has had something to be excited for. He batted .267 with 18 homers and 74 RBIs and became the first player with four game-winning RBIs in one postseason series, according to STATS LLC.
Now Young and the Tigers are heading to the World Series.
“That was thanks to our starting pitchers. They carried us the whole playoffs so far, making it easy on the offense by putting up zeros on the board,” said Young.
The World Series will begin on October 24. The Tigers will play the winner of the National League series between the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals.
