Tigers’ Young returns to field, says he’s sorry for rant

(JTA) — Detroit Tigers outfielder Delmon Young apologized for his anti-Semitic rant and attack in New York following the lifting of his weeklong suspension.

During a pregame interview with reporters on May 5, Young apologized to his teammates, the Tigers organization, the victim’s family, Major League Baseball, friends, family and fans, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Saying he had a “lapse in judgment,” Young added that “I just want to let everybody know that I’m not anti-Semitic. I wasn’t raised that way, came from a good family, and we weren’t taught any of that, especially growing up in a diverse area.”

Young said the incident occurred because he had too much to drink and that he was enrolled in an alcohol treatment program.

He is facing a misdemeanor aggravated harassment hate crime charge stemming from the April 27 incident outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, where the Tigers were staying before the start of a series with the Yankees that night. Young is scheduled to appear in court in New York on May 29 and faces up to a year in jail if convicted. He had been suspended by Major League Baseball.

According to reports, a group of tourists staying at the hotel were approached by a panhandler wearing a yarmulke and Young yelled anti-Semitic epithets at the group. Young also reportedly shoved one of the men, who sustained minor injuries.