CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds activated Ken Griffey Jr. from the 15-day disabled list Monday, even though his strained hamstring hasn't completely healed.

	Griffey Jr.

The Reds optioned outfielder Raul Gonzalez to Triple-A Louisville to open a roster spot for Griffey, who started in center field against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Griffey missed 72 of the Reds' first 98 games because of a torn tendon in his right knee and the strained right hamstring. He has only two homers and four RBI.

Griffey returned from the tendon injury on June 7, strained the hamstring while running to first base two weeks later, and went on the disabled list June 24 after aggravating it.

Manager Bob Boone watched Griffey run on Sunday and was convinced that he's well enough to play, even though the hamstring will need more time to heal.

"I think we're far enough along in the process that it's time to try it,'' Boone said. "He could take two years off and rehab it every day for two years, but I don't think we have that option.''

Griffey will have to be careful not to make a sudden move while running. All of his injuries the last two seasons have come while he was running the bases.

He tore his left hamstring while rounding third base during a spring training game in 2001 and was limited to 111 games. He tore the tendon in his knee during a rundown on April 7, and hurt the hamstring while running out hits.

"He has to protect it,'' Boone said. "He's moving pretty good. We're most concerned about quick movements out of the box or having to score from first.''

Gonzalez was called up July 11 and hit .261 in 10 games.