It was first reported today by Jeff Zrebiec of The Sun that Orioles SS J.J. Hardy will be out for multiple weeks with an oblique strain:
Mri on jj hardys oblique reveals a strain. He’ll be out probably between two to three weeks. #orioles
Jeff Zrebiec
jeffzrebiecsun
Hardy, acquired from the Minnesota Twins via trade this past off season, has hit .200 (3/15) through six games (all three hits were doubles) and has played a stellar defensive game at short.
This news, just another bit to add to the Orioles injury troubles that went on throughout Spring Training, means increased playing time for Cesar Izturis and Robert Andino, who will share the starting role at shortstop.
Hardy has not yet been placed on the DL, but the tentative plan is for him to be put there on Wednesday, with the corresponding move of Brad Bergesen being called up for that day’s start in New York.
Hardy has dealt with wrist injuries and depression in the past, so this oblique problem is a new one for him. That can either be looked at as a positive that it is not a lagging injury acting up, or as a negative that he now has an added area of concern. Either way, the news that he has a strain and nothing past that is positive compared to the speculative chance that he would have had to sit for up to six weeks had the MRI come up with worse results.
