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Orioles place shortstop J.J. Hardy on DL with foot fracture

MLB, Baltimore Orioles

BALTIMORE -- Shortstop J.J. Hardy has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Baltimore Orioles because of a hairline fracture in his left foot.

The 33-year-old Hardy is expected to miss four to six weeks. He was on crutches in the Orioles clubhouse on Tuesday and will wear a boot for two to three weeks, but says he has no idea when he might return.

"I don't want to put a timetable on it just because I don't want to be disappointed if I don't reach it or if I set one and try to rush back," Hardy said. "I've never broken a bone in my body until this, so I don't know how long it's going to take."

The injury occurred Sunday, when Hardy fouled a ball off his foot in the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox. 

"It's definitely frustrating," Hardy said. "I've been feeling as good as I can remember. I mean, I don't know the last time that I've felt this good."

Baltimore recalled infielder Ryan Flaherty from Triple-A Norfolk. Flaherty was originally in the starting lineup at shortstop for Tuesday night's game against the New York Yankees, but manager Buck Showalter made a switch after talking to Manny Machado, inserting the third baseman at shortstop and moving Flaherty to third.

"Manny made a case that he wants the Orioles to win," Showalter said.

The 29-year-old Flaherty, a career .215 hitter, is a utility player who has spent time at six different positions since debuting for the Orioles in 2012.

Although he has played more games at second base (169) than anywhere else, he has also played 52 games at shortstop and 46 games at third base.

In other news, Orioles closer Zach Britton hopes to return this week after twisting his left ankle in a game Saturday night.

"It's not going to be today, but I'm not sure if it's going to be tomorrow or the next day," Britton said.

The left-hander said an MRI showed no structural damage.

"I think flexibility, range of motion is back. It's just swollen," Britton said. "The biggest issue right now is, does it hurt me doing baseball things -- covering first, fielding a bunt or whatnot. Those are things that I'm going to have to test out."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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