BALTIMORE -- First baseman Dmitri Young was activated from the 15-day disabled list Friday by the Washington Nationals, who used him as their designated hitter in the first of three interleague games against the Baltimore Orioles.
Manager Manny Acta hopes the switch-hitting Young will spark Washington's offense.
"He is a guy who doesn't go into slumps," Acta said of Young. "He's a natural hitter from both sides of the plate. We need some offense right now and he can give it to us."
Aaron Boone started at first base for Washington on Friday, a day after the Nationals placed first baseman Nick Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with a tear in the tendon sheath in his right wrist. Johnson is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Young, who has not played since April 2 because of a lower back sprain, should see most of the action at first base in Johnson's absence. Subbing for Johnson last year while Johnson recovered from a broken right leg, Young hit .320 with 13 homers and 74 RBI.
"It feels good not to be hurt. ... I just want to do what I can to contribute," said Young, who was 3-for-8 in a two-game rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Harrisburg.
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