YOUNG WON’T MAKE ROSTER
VIERA, Fla. — Dmitri Young won’t open the season in the major leagues.
The Nationals first baseman will remain in Florida at the team’s extended spring training for at least three weeks, according to a team source, getting more at-bats and getting himself into better shape.
Young, 35, was added to Washington’s 40-man roster this past weekend and had hopes of being on the Opening Day roster. But team officials believe he needs more time to get his game together after missing most of spring training with a strained back.
After playing in minor league games for more than a week, Young will be in the Nationals’ lineup Tuesday, serving as the designated hitter against the Tigers. But while the rest of the team heads west to conclude the Grapefruit League and then north for its exhibition finales in Norfolk and the District, Young will return to Viera and resume his workouts at the minor league complex.
Battling back problems and diabetes, Young appeared in only 50 games last season. Still due to earn $5 million this year, he agreed over the winter to be taken off the Nationals’ 40-man roster, provided the club added him back before Opening Day.
TIGERS 3, NATIONALS 2
After dominating his first five outings while competing for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, rookie Shairon Martis finally looked fallible Monday, two days after learning he had made the team.
Martis allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings, serving up two home runs and throwing a whopping 94 pitches. The right-hander, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, insisted he didn’t lose his edge because he finally knew he had job security.
“It doesn’t go like that, because I still have to keep working hard,” he said. “If I go out there and just throw to throw, they’re going to hit me. I’ve still got to be aggressive and get the first-pitch strike, and that wasn’t working today for me.”
Ryan Zimmerman hit his first homer of the spring, a two-run shot in the first inning.
— Mark Zuckerman
TEMPERATURE CHECK
WILLIE HARRIS [DOWN]
Misplays three popups at second base
ANDERSON HERNANDEZ [UP]
Seems to be recovering nicely from hamstring injury
RYAN WAGNER [DOWN]
Reliever reassigned to minor league camp
TUESDAY’S WEATHER
Washington: Mostly sunny, 62 degrees
Viera: Partly cloudy, 83 degrees
THREE-DAY SCHEDULE
Tuesday: vs. Tigers in Lakeland, 1 p.m.
Wednesday: vs Blue Jays in Dunedin, 1 p.m.
Thursday: vs. Phillies in Clearwater, 1 p.m.
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