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J.J. Hardy launches his first spring homer. It should come down soon.

J.J. Hardy picked up right where he left off last year, hitting a long home run in the first inning of Saturday's intrasquad game. (Reuters)

SARASOTA, Fla. -- J.J. Hardy picked up right where he left off last season, driving an 0-1 pitch from Armando Galarraga well over the left field fence in Saturday's intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium.

"I don't even know if I've hit a homer in coaches' batting practice,'' he said, "so it was kind of a surprise. "

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Somebody asked him if – coming off a 30-homer season – if he was already locked at the plate this spring.

"Obviously, I'll take it,'' he said, "but I'm definitely not locked in. It's way too early to be locked in. I don't even want to be locked in yet."

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