Manager Buck Showalter hadn't planned to play Hardy at shortstop in most of the team's early spring games, anyway. With Manny Machado set to play short for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Showalter wanted to allow him to prepare by playing there in Grapefruit League games.
The 34-year-old Hardy, beginning his seventh season with the Orioles, hurt his back late last month. He expects to play in his first game on March 10.
"I think it's going as planned," he said of his rehab.
Machado didn't make the trip to Lakeland to face the Tigers in the Orioles' Grapefruit League opener.