Delmon Young Replaces Magglio Ordonez on Tigers Playoff Roster
By Editorial Staff
The Detroit Tigers have announced that Delmon Young has been added to their playoff roster. Young, who was left off of Detroit’s original ALCS roster due to a strained oblique, has been called on to replace Magglio Ordonez, who’s been shut down for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.
Ordonez injured his right ankle during batting practice before Saturday’s ALCS opener against the Texas Rangers. Even so, Ordonez attempted to play through the pain. Ordonez made three plate appearances before he was lifted in the 5th for a pinch-runner.
After meeting with doctors Sunday, Ordonez was diagnosed with a fractured right ankle. The split occurred in the same area in which Ordonez broke his ankle last season. With the news, the Tigers announced that they would be shutting Ordonez down for the rest of the playoffs.
The loss of Ordonez was magnified because the Tigers were already without Young. In the 7th inning of the ALDS finale, Young injured his right side during an at bat. Young didn’t take the field in the bottom of the frame, but instead was examined by a team physician.
Originally, the reports were positive regarding Young. The Tigers believed that he would be able to remain on the playoff roster for their second round matchup with the Rangers.
But Young’s condition worsened Saturday. The outfielder wasn’t able to raise him arm without experiencing excruciating pain, and manager Jim Leyland confirmed the Tigers would have to move forward without Young.
Now, just days after the injury, Detroit has recalled Young to replace the injured Ordonez. Not only that, but the Tigers have placed Young in their starting lineup for today’s ALCS game two. Young will bat third for Detroit and play left field, while Ryan Raburn, originally tabbed as Young’s replacement, will shift to right to fill in for Ordonez.
When the news broke earlier today that Young was returning for the Tigers, some would have considered it a coup for Detroit if he could provide pinch-hit at bats. Now, with news of his starting role, Tigers fans are hoping Young can provide the same spark to the club’s lineup that he did during the first round of the playoffs. Over those five contests, Young hit at a clip of .316/.381/.789 with three home runs and RBI’s.
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