J.J. Hardy to begin rehab assignment Tuesday at Bowie

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

June 13, 2016, 1:09pm

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Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is ready to take the most significant step in his recovery from a fractured left foot.

A pain-free step toward an injury rehab assignment.

Hardy will report to Double-A Bowie and play Tuesday night against Portland. He's scheduled to remain with the Baysox for three games before the team hits the road and Hardy moves to another affiliate.

Triple-A Norfolk is home June 17-23. Single-A Frederick is home June 16-19.

Hardy has been hitting and taking ground balls at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. The Orioles decided that he's ready to play in games. However, there's no firm timetable for his return from the disabled list.

Manager Buck Showalter has indicated that Hardy may not need a prolonged stint in the minors after appearing in 22 games with the Orioles.

Hardy hasn't played since fouling a ball off his foot on May 1. A CT scan revealed the fracture.

Hardy is batting 244/.291/.410 with seven doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs. He hasn't committed an error.

Manny Machado has played shortstop in Hardy's absence, with Showalter preferring to keep him at one position. He can move back to third upon Hardy's return, whenever the Orioles are ready to make a roster move.

Machado currently is appealing his four-game suspension for charging the mound and throwing a punch at Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura, touching off a benches-clearing brawl at Camden Yards.