Hardy progressing toward BP as wrist continues to heal

SEATTLE - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is taking ground balls, throwing and hitting soft toss as he continues his recovery from a fractured right wrist. However, there's no timetable for an injury rehab assignment and it's becoming more likely that he remains on the disabled list through the month.

Hardy hasn't suffered any setbacks. It's just a gradual process that can't be rushed.

"It's still just kind of building arm strength and getting back into throwing," Hardy said today while sitting at his locker in the visiting clubhouse at Safeco Field. "The wrist feels pretty good. It's just that the arm feels weak. I'd have a hard time throwing myself out if I hit myself a grounder. I am pretty fast. That's what I'm saying."

But seriously, folks ...

"I've been hitting," Hardy continued. "I took 30 or 40 swings today, some flips, and that went well, so I'm sure tomorrow will be kind of overhand in the cage and progress from there. So maybe when we get back to Baltimore, start taking batting practice on the field and get a little more arm strength."

Hardy didn't want to predict that a rehab assignment could come within a week. He won't be pinned down.

"I don't even want to say that because it could be sooner than that and it might be later. I don't know. I really don't," he said.

"To put a timetable on it is tough. I mean, I'm trying to get out there as soon as I can so that I can play as many games as I feel like I need to and then get back in time for September. But it's just, you can't rush it too much. I'm trying as best I can. I'm working hard to get back there, but it's just taking some time.

"It's still going forward. There definitely hasn't been a setback. It's just hard to say exactly when I'll be ready to go out and play."

For the Mariners
Jean Segura SS
Yonder Alonso 1B
Robinson Canó 2B
Nelson Cruz DH
Kyle Seager 3B
Guillermo Heredia LF
Ben Gamel RF
Mike Zunino C
Jarrod Dyson CF

Yovani Gallardo RHP