Dmitri Young was once Cardinals' 'third baseman of the future.' (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        ST. LOUIS - It's fitting that Dmitri Young played third base for the first time as a major leaguer Friday at Busch Stadium.

        Young once was the Cardinals' third baseman of the future. The Cardinals picked Young fourth overall in the 1991 free-agent draft.

        He played third base for 2 1/2 years in the minors. He was moved to first base and the outfield in 1993.

        At the time, Young said, Cardinals director of player development Mike Jorgensen made this remark: “Young looks like a bull in a china factory breaking on ground balls.”

        The comment stuck with Young.

        “I hope he's here tonight,” Young said.

        He only had one chance at third base. He made the play.

        Young, who has played first base, left field and right field for the Reds, welcomed the move. It's temporary, since Aaron Boone is due off the disabled list any day.

        “Sounds like fun to me,” he said. “It should be no problem at all. Catch the ball, throw it to first. It's a reaction position.”

Deion Sanders, bunting on an 0-for-4 night, started in LF. | ZOOM |

        Reds manager Bob Boone has been thinking about the move for a week or so.

        “I'm a defensive guy trying to make an offensive move,” he said. “I'm scared to death.”

        The Reds have plenty of players who can probably play third better than Young: Bill Selby, Juan Castro and Donnie Sadler.

        But it's gotten to the point where they need offense, at any cost. The Reds scored three runs or fewer 15 times in May. That was a big reason for 6-22 record.

        “We're down 3-1 the other day, and I've got no clue what we're going to do,” Boone said. “Drastic times call for drastic measures.”

        Boone considered using Michael Tucker at second base. Tucker came up as a shortstop. But Young's play at first convinced Boone to put him at third.

        “He made plays at first that are pretty athletic,” Boone said.

        Boone started Deion Sanders in left field. That gave him two players on the bench, Ruben Rivera and D.T. Cromer, capable of a pinch-hit home run — something the Reds haven't had all year.

        Sanders went 0-for-4 and is now hitting .167.

Reds 5, Cards 1 Who's on third? Why, it's Dmitri Larkin, Boone making progress Reds box, runs

SULLIVAN: Bengals fans wanted for movie
Bengals tackle racial healing
Birdie streak lands Azinger atop Memorial
Memorial Golf Notebook
CCD reaches state baseball finals
Hamilton plays for state softball title
Ohio track highlights
Ohio boys track results
Ohio girls track results
Boone wins Ninth Region softball
Ky. tennis highlights
Ky. boys tennis results
Ky. girls tennis results
Ky. track highlights
Ky. boys track results
Ky. girls track results

• Return to Reds front page...