Shogo Akiyama is set to make his season debut Friday after he was activated from the 10-day injured list, scheduled to bat ninth in the Cincinnati Reds' series opener in Cleveland.
Akiyama, who missed the first month of the season with a left hamstring strain, was 1-for-9 with three strikeouts in two rehab games at Triple-A Louisville. He played in a few scrimmages at the alternate site before the minor-league season began.
He fills Joey Votto's spot on the 26-man roster. Votto was placed on the injured list Friday after he fractured his left thumb in Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox.