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James Jerry "J.J." Hardy (born August 19, 1982, in Tucson, Arizona) is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles. Hardy played baseball at Sabino High School in Arizona, and was captain of the "Sabercats" baseball team. He was an All-State Selection in 1999, 2000, and 2001, and was All-American in 2001. Also in 2001, he was a member of the U.S. Junior National team, which won the silver medal in Edmonton, Canada. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers during the second round of the 2001 draft. In 2003 he played for the U.S. Olympic Qualifying team. Participated in MLB... MORE

James Jerry "J.J." Hardy (born August 19, 1982, in Tucson, Arizona) is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles. Hardy played baseball at Sabino High School in Arizona, and was captain of the "Sabercats" baseball team. He was an All-State Selection in 1999, 2000, and 2001, and was All-American in 2001. Also in 2001, he was a member of the U.S. Junior National team, which won the silver medal in Edmonton, Canada. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers during the second round of the 2001 draft. In 2003 he played for the U.S. Olympic Qualifying team. Participated in MLB All-Star Futures Game in 2003. His 2008 contract with the Brewers was for $2,650,000. Hardy suffered a dislocated shoulder and a torn labrum in 2004 in the minor leagues and sat out the year. He went into spring training in 2005 as the frontrunner to win the starting shortstop job. Although he got off to a very slow start, Hardy finished strong and ended the year with a .247 batting average, 9 home runs and 50 RBIs. Hardy committed only 10 errors in the field, but also had the lowest range factor of all major league shortstops (3.76). On May 16, 2006, Hardy slid into Philadelphia Phillies catcher LESS