MILWAUKEE -- Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy saw the team's head physician on Friday afternoon after soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder forced him to sit out for the first time this season.

The team said Hardy has a rotator cuff strain, but that there is no damage to his labrum. Hardy had surgery in 2004 to repair a torn left labrum, so this news was especially encouraging.

He has been passing strength tests, but the injury has lingered a little longer than he and the Brewers would like.

Hardy had previously experienced subluxation -- a partial dislocation of the joint -- in the Minor Leagues, but assistant general manager Gord Ash made it clear that isn't the case this time.

All that said, what is the prognosis for the young infielder?

"We'll give him through the weekend and see how he's coming along," said Ash.

According to Ash, Hardy will take the weekend off from baseball-related activities in order to rest up the sore shoulder. He didn't participate in batting practice before Friday's series opener with the Twins.

Still, manager Ned Yost said Hardy would be available off the bench if necessary.

"Yeah, absolutely [he'll be available], if I need him for a double switch he'll play," Yost said. "I'm not going to start him, but I will use him if I need him."

Yost did say that Hardy will get to use the weekend to get some rest, but if the right situation arose, he could see some time on the field.

"I'm not going to just arbitrarily use him," Yost said. "It's going to be a situation where it's a necessity.

"I'm going to give him every opportunity to sit, but if I get into a situation where I need him, he'll play."

Hardy re-aggravated the lingering should injury when he caught a cutoff throw in Wednesday's game against the Astros. He had experienced weakness in the shoulder before, but had normally been able to recover strength after about 30 minutes.

"We were making a lot of progress, to the point where it was feeling pretty good," Hardy said after Thursday's game. "One little thing will happen that sets it back for a while, but even the way it feels right now, I feel like I could play today."