"A year ago, Chris Young was less than 24 hours away from being optioned to Reno.

Kelly Johnson, meanwhile, was struggling through a subpar season with Atlanta.

Both had something to prove, and they have made their points emphatically, and are prime candidates to win the National League Comeback Player of the Year award.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said both players fit the criteria.

"They've had great years, and they're really grinding right now," he said. "We count on them. I have this chart up all the time about how much they've played. I'm not sure people understand how hard it is to be consistent when you play that much because you don't feel good every day.

"You've got some stuff that's gonna crop up all the time. You're facing the best pitchers where maybe other guys, different role players on all teams, sometimes they get matched up against people that they could be successful at.

"And (first baseman Adam) LaRoche, he's another guy. We've been running him out there, too, and he has that great calming approach for everybody."

Young spent Aug. 10-29 in Triple-A last season, and he ended the year hitting .212 with 42 RBIs, 15 home runs, 54 runs, 92 hits and 54 runs in 134 games. With 50 games remaining this season, Young is hitting .269, with 19 home runs, 67 RBIs, 111 hits and 62 runs scored."