Phillies release Delmon Young

The Philadelphia Phillies have released outfielder Delmon Young after he cleared waivers and refused an assignment to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. confirmed the move to The Associated Press following Philadelphia's 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night.

Young, last year's ALCS MVP with the Detroit Tigers, played just 80 games for the Phillies.

He hit .261 with eight homers and 31 RBIs, striking out 69 times in 272 at-bats. Young was designated for assignment last week.

The first overall pick in the 2003 draft, Young was suspended seven days without pay last year because of his role in an incident outside a New York City hotel.

Young later pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment for shouting an anti-Semitic slur and tackling a man to the ground.