HOUSTON -- Second baseman Kazuo Matsui made his Houston debut on Friday night after the Astros activated the second baseman from the disabled list. It remains to be seen if Matsui will prove to be the missing piece for what has been a puzzling Astros offense.

Matsui, who signed a three-year, $16.5 million free agent contract with Houston during the offseason, has been sidelined since March 21. He made his first appearance of the season against his former team, the Rockies, at Minute Maid Park.

"I'm so pleased to come back and I'm so excited to play," Matsui said through interpreter Yoshitaka Ono.

The Astros are ranked 29th among MLB's 30 teams in both batting average and on-base percentage. In Matsui, who hit .288 with a .342 on-base percentage last season, the Astros are adding a player they hope will be the kind of No. 2 hitter who ignites the offense.

"We're starting to get our pieces back, that's the most important thing and Kazuo is a big part of that," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "That's why we signed him. We thought he'd be an excellent hitter at the top of our lineup, give us speed, give us defense and that's what we're looking for. In a short period of time he's going to be the guy he thought he is."

The switch-hitting Matsui will hit behind lead-off man Michael Bourn and in front of switch-hitting slugger Lance Berkman. Matsui's presence should help the left-handed hitting Bourn see more fastballs and perhaps get going offensively. The center fielder entered Friday night's game batting .224.

"It's important for [Matsui] to be in the lineup, period," Cooper said. "He's a veteran, done this before, knows how to steal bases. He's known for getting on base and creating havoc and that would be big for us."

The Astros also welcomed back rookie catcher J.R. Towles to the lineup. Towles had not started the last three games because of a bruised hand.

"Today we're two steps closer to having the everyday lineup with [injured third baseman Ty Wigginton] back together," Astros general manager Ed Wade said.

Matsui doesn't know if he will provide an immediate spark.

"The offense, when something is good is good, and when it's not it's not," Matsui said. "What I'm trying to do is do whatever I can to help the team."

Matsui's teammates believe it is only a matter of time before the offense starts rolling.

"It's going to happen," left fielder Carlos Lee said. "We're too good of a team not to. We haven't clicked yet, but it's going to happen soon."

Matsui, who has been on the disabled list since before the season started after undergoing a medical procedure to repair an anal fissure, completed five rehab games for Double-A Corpus Christi. Matsui batted .278 (5-for-18) with two runs scored, three doubles, a homer, and one RBI for the Hooks.

To clear a roster spot for Matsui the Astros designated catcher Humberto Quintero for assignment.

"[Quintero]'s in a tough position, he's one of three catchers and we can't carry but two really," Cooper said. "I like Quintero, he's a good kid, he works hard and he showed us that he was committed to doing what needed to be done to stay in the big leagues. He did it, I was pulling for him, it's just unfortunate that Brad [Ausmus] is a veteran catcher that's been around and been a big help to J.R. [Towles], who is our guy of the future."