Go ahead Young!

Young named NL Comeback Player
First baseman takes advantage of second chance by Nats
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

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Dmitri Young hit .323 with 13 homers and 74 RBIs for the Nationals in '07. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON -- Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young is living proof of what a person can do if given a second chance. On Tuesday, Young was rewarded for taking advantage of his second chance by being named the 2007 National League Comeback Player of the Year.

The club beat reporters at MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, selected the winners for the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Devil Rays first baseman Carlos Pena was the American League winner.

Young, 33, was one of the most important players on the Nationals this past season, hitting .320 with 13 home runs and 74 RBIs.

Young also is the No. 1 reason the Nationals' clubhouse went from being one of the worst in team history to one of the best in the game. He is the leader and is always trying to give a young player a helping hand.

Young has come a long way. He thought his career was over after the 2006 season. He was released by the Tigers, was put on probation for domestic violence as well as being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. His plan was to drive his camper across the country and watch his siblings, including Devil Rays outfielder Delmon Young, play sports. But Delmon and his father, Larry, told Dmitri he had too much left in the tank to quit.

The Nationals were the only team interested in Young. He had a history with general manager Jim Bowden, as the two worked together when both were with the Reds from 1998-01.

Bowden wasn't convinced that Larry Broadway and Travis Lee would provide the consistency with the bat, so he invited Young to Spring Training. The Nationals told him there was a no-tolerance policy if Young had problems off the field again. They would release him the moment he got himself in trouble.

Now, Young is part of the Nationals' future after signing a two-year extension in July.

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its