The O’s’ injury issues continue to worsen.
Veteran shortstop J.J. Hardy, 34, will be sidelined for up to two months with a wrist fracture, reports MLB.com. Hardy was struck by a fastball yesterday in the bottom of the fourth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The O’s held off the Cards for the win, but lost another key player to injury.
A scan this morning confirmed the findings from an X-ray yesterday: a non-displaced right wrist fracture.
Hardy is understandably annoyed. “I felt like I was making strides, getting out of the funk I was in,” he told MLB.com. “And then this happens. So, very frustrating.”
He joins Chris Davis, Darren O’Day, Zach Britton and Ryan Flaherty on the disabled list.
Jon Meoli at the Sun pointed out that this is becoming part of a pattern. Hardy tore his labrum at the end of the 2015 season and fractured his foot in May 2016, making this the third straight year he’s sustained a significant injury.
Rubén Tejada has been fielded as his potential replacement. The Birds begin a four-day homestay against the Cleveland Indians tonight.
