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JockBio Vital Stats |
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• Minnesota Twins |
• Outfield |
• #21 |
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• Height: 6' 3" |
• Weight: 200 |
• Born: 9/14/85 |
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- Delmon and Dmitri
Young are the highest-drafted brothers in history. Dmitri was the fourth
overall choice in 1991.
- Dmitri was briefly
the property of the Rays. They selected him in the 1997 expansion
draft and then traded him to the Cincinnati Reds for Mike Kelly.
- Delmon was named
Youth Player of the Year as a high-school junior in 2002.
- Many believe Delmon
could have made the majors as a pitcher. He recorded two saves with Team
USA during 2002.
- In 2002, Delmon
was the first junior to be named California State Player of the Year
since Eric Chavez in 1995.
- Delmon was named
to the Futures Game in 2004 and 2005.
- Delmon’s
116 RBIs in 2004 were the most in the Tampa Bay organization. His 26
homers placed him one behind Durham teammate Midre Cummings for the
organization lead.
- Delmon’s
341 hits in 2004 and 2005 were second-most in the minors to Erick Aybar’s 351.
- Delmon was named
Baseball America’s 2005 Minor League Player of the Year. Delmon
was the second Ray to earn this honor. Rocco Baldelli won the award
in 2002.
- Delmon triggered
a triple play in 2005 when he gunned down a Norfolk Tides runner trying
to score on fly ball. The runner on first was so amazed by
the throw that he was tagged out for the third out.
- Delmon played his first major league game exactly 10 years after his brother Dmitri’s first game.
- Delmon stroked 31 hits in his first 20 big-league games. Only six players in the last 50 years have exceeded that total. He was also the first player since Willie McCovey to bang out eight hits in his first three games.
- Delmon and Bob Horner are the only #1 overall draft picks to homer in their first major league games.
- In the past 50 years, only Albert Pujols, Nomar Garciaparra and Tony Oliva had more hits, double sand RBIs as a rookie than Delmon.
- Only three Rays made it to the majors at a younger age than Delmon—Scott Kazmir, Chad Gaudin, and B.J. Upton.
- Delmon is most
often compared to Albert Belle—though scouts are quick to add
“without the attitude.” Delmon compares himself to Vladimir
Guerrero.
- Delmon has studied
the mechanics of baseball’s top hitters since he was in high school.
The swings he most admires belong to Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and
Larry Walker. All three have a slight leg kick, like Delmon does.
- Delmon’s
younger sister, DeAnn, was recruited to play softball by Oregon State
in 2005.
- Delmon calls his
dad after each game to give him a pitch-by-pitch review of his at-bats.
- Part of Delmon’s punishment for his 2006 bat-throwing incident involved community service. He worked with a wheelchair softball league during his suspension.
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Eric Chavez, 2000
Fleer
Willie McCovey, 1969 Topps Decal
Albert Belle, 1993
Upper Deck
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