Major League Baseball

Prado returns from DL, starts at 3B

Published Jul. 16, 2011 1:04 a.m. ET

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Martin Prado returned from the disabled list Friday and started at third base for the Atlanta Braves against Washington on Friday night.

Prado played eight games in his minor league rehabilitation and missed five weeks with a staph infection in his right calf.

Prado, a fill-in All-Star starter at second base last season before moving to third base, opened this season as the starting left fielder. He is expected to fill in at third base for at least two weeks as Chipper Jones recovers from arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.

Prado, who hit second against the Nationals, said he wasn't expecting to immediately return to top form.

''It's probably going to take a couple games, but I'm happy I can do everything and start playing,'' Prado said.

Jones said he had ''that heavy leg feeling'' on Friday after a workout that included 10 40-yard sprints. He said he hopes to be ready the first day he is eligible to come off the disabled list on July 24.

Jones said his workout was a stiff test so soon after his surgery.

''I'm feeling it now,'' he said. ''But I want to know what I can do. ... I was pleasantly surprised with all but about my first two or three 40s.''

Prado is hitting .277 with eight homers and 33 RBIs.

Meanwhile, right-hander Peter Moylan played catch Thursday for the first time since having surgery to repair a bulging disc in his lower back in May. Moylan said he hopes to return in 4 to 6 weeks.

The Braves optioned infielder Brandon Hicks to Triple-A Gwinnett.

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