CLEARWATER, Fla. – Delmon Young increased the intensity of his rehabilitation on Friday, and he did it with a bang.

Young, recovering from offseason surgery on his right ankle, batted four times in a minor-league game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. He homered in his second at-bat against Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who started the minor-league game for the Jays.

Young also flied out and grounded out twice in the game.

The plan was for Young to be replaced by a pinch-runner if he got on base. He ran for himself, though, after hitting the home run in his second at-bat.

“It took a while, but it was a lot of fun,” Young said.

The decision to take some at-bats in the minor-league game was made Friday morning after Young arrived in the clubhouse and felt good after base-running exercises Thursday.

The Phillies have been taking things slow with Young’s rehab because they don’t want him to have a setback. He will open the season on the disabled list and slowly increase his playing time in minor-league games. When he’s ready to go, he will become the Phillies’ rightfielder. That could happen in late April or early May.