ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have signed high school star Delmon Young, the top overall pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, to a five-year contract.
Young, 18, gives the organization another talented young outfielder, joining 21-year-olds Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford. The 6-3, 205-pound Young will report to the Devil Rays' Instructional League on Sept. 19. To clear room on its 40-man roster, Tampa Bay transferred shortstop Rey Ordonez from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list.
"Delmon's one of the fine young hitters in the country," said General Manager Chuck LaMar. "He's got the potential to hit and hit with power, and be a productive middle-of-the-lineup-type hitter on a major league club."
Delmon Young, the younger brother of Detroit's Dmitri Young, was named 2003 Baseball America's Player of the Year after hitting .541 with seven home runs and 28 RBI in 61 at-bats for Camarillo High School in California this past season.
