DETROIT (WWJ) - Big troubles Friday for a Detroit Tigers slugger, as the team prepares to take on the Yankees in New York.

NYPD spokesman Detective Marc Nell told WWJ Newsradio 950 that Delmon Young was arrested early Friday morning and charged with aggravated harassment.

Nell said the 26-year-old allegedly made an anti-semitic remark and assaulted a man in front of the Hilton Hotel on 6th Avenue in New York.

According to the New York Post, a panhandler wearing a yarmulke approached a group of people to ask for some change — and that's when Young, who was nearby, started shouting, "F–king Jews!  F–king Jews!"

The confrontation quickly turned physical, according to police, when Young allegedly pushed a 32-year-old man to the ground.

Both groups eventually retreated to their rooms, and that's when sources say the man Young allegedly injured noticed several scratches on his arm and called 911 around 2:30 a.m. Police responded to the hotel, where the victim received treatment for minor injuries.

Sources say that Young was "highly intoxicated" and had to be taken to the hospital to sober up before being taken to a police precinct.

Young, who reportedly has had problems controlling his temper in the past, has been charged with "aggravated harassment," and is currently in custody.

Nell said the NYPD Hate Crimes Unit is investigating the hate crime allegation.

The Tigers are in New York to begin their series against the Yankees Friday night.

97.1 The Ticket's Terry Foster said the last thing the Tigers need fighting a losing streak is for a starting player to be in trouble with the law.

"My guess is this, they're going to stick with Delmon Young for the rest of the season because I think he can help them. But he's kind of on a zero tolerance policy right now, as far as if he wants to have a future here," said Foster.

"Someone told me this, that sometimes you just make too much money and you make bad choices… The one thing that athletes carry around with them is entitlement. They deny this, but a lot of times they think they're better than everybody else, that they can go out and do whatever they want and there won't be any repercussions. But that's not necessarily the case," he continued.

The Detroit Tigers have yet to comment.

Young was first drafted into the Majors in 2003. He played for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2006 before being traded to the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2008 season. He stayed with the Twins until last season where he was traded to the Tigers.

The Detroit Tigers have issued this following statement: "We are aware of the situation, however it is our club policy not to comment on pending legal matters. As we understand it, this is an allegation and we need to allow the legal process to take its course. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time. Per a provision in the Major League Baseball Basic Agreement, any allegation that involves alcohol is referred to MLB's Employee Assistance Program."