ESPN: Kurkjian: Young having “amazing” season for Nats

Inspired by Lenny Harris, Dmitri Young overcomes romantic turbulence and diabetes to become a mentor to Nationals prospects and possible All-Star.

Since May 17, he has hit .431, the best batting average in baseball in that time. He has a chance to make the All-Star team. And, chances are, around the trading deadline, contending teams will want a veteran switch-hitter who can really hit.

“Amazing,” said Nationals infielder Ronnie Belliard. “Good hitters never forget how to hit.”

Young would like to forget most of 2006, but the issues he had to address were major. First was a divorce. “That was tough,” he said. “We have three children. But we [he and his ex-wife] get along.” Then, he said, “there was that legal thing”—he pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge after being accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend. Young was sentenced in September to a year of probation.

Then, around last Thanksgiving, he discovered he had diabetes.