After Friday's game, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said he expects to return from the disabled list Saturday.
"I felt really good today. I played those last three days at Bowie, and each day was better than the previous," Hardy said. "I'm excited about that improvement, and today was really good. … Of course, it doesn't need to get much better than it was today, but if it gets even better than that, great."
Hardy worked out before batting practice, took live BP and did regular infield drills before the Orioles' series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said that depending on how Hardy responded to that, he could return from the DL as early as today, or he could play one more minor league rehabilitation game at High-A Frederick today and be activated Sunday.
Hardy, who has been on the DL with a fractured bone in his left foot for the past six weeks, finished his three-game stint at Double-A Bowie on Thursday, playing all nine innings and going 1-for-5 at the plate.
"[It was] good just to see how it was today," Hardy said. "To play a full nine innings last night and then be able to run around like I was today, it's good."
Hardy said Wednesday that he didn't feel any discomfort in his left foot at the plate or playing defense, but had some stiffness in his ankle area when running the bases.
Hardy said he believed that discomfort was rooted in his foot being in a boot for five weeks after fouling a pitch off it May 1. But he responded well to his work Friday.
"I felt I was running pretty good today. Better than I expected," Hardy said. "I can do it here. It's time. If my ankle's ready — I say ankle because that's what I kind of was dealing with. The bone's been fine for about a week and a half, but I feel like I was ready to go."