PITTSBURGH, June 29 (UPI) -- First baseman Kevin Young of the Pittsburgh Pirates was released following Saturday's game against Colorado.
Young, who has spent all but one of his 14 professional seasons in the Pittsburgh organization, is in the final year of a four-year, $24 million contract. He has been a disappointment since signing the big deal.
"The only thing I regret is you wanted to see the organization get over the hump," Young said. "That's the hardest thing for me to deal with."
He was drafted by Pittsburgh in 1990, and made his major league debut two years later. He spent the 1996 season with Kansas City, but was released in November.
From 1997-99, he averaged 24 homers and 96 RBI, and in 1999, he became the only team player in team history to record at least 100 runs, 40 doubles, 20 homers, 100 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in the same season.
This season, he was hitting just .202 with two homers and seven RBI in 52 games.
