Dmitri Young begins rehab assignment

Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young started his rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast Nationals on Friday and went 0-for-1 with a walk against the Mets. It was Young’s first game of the season after spending  almost three months in extended Spring Training.

Young, who is currently on the disabled list because of back and hip problems, will play three games in the Gulf Coast League and then play for Double-A Harrisburg.

Young will be in the Minor Leagues for 20 days, and then the Nationals must decide where he fits in with the Major League club. As of right now, there doesn’t appear to be room for Young because Nick Johnson is the starting first baseman with Adam Dunn as the backup.

“You never know. There could be a trade or an injury,” said a baseball source on Young chances of playing for the big club.

In other news, outfielder Lastings Milledge also played in the Gulf Coast game against the Mets. It was his first appearance since breaking his hand  on May 11 as a member of Triple A Syracuse.