"Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will head to Sarasota, Fla., on Friday to resume his rehabilitation program, which has been delayed more than a week by a bout of pneumonia that landed him in the hospital for two nights.

"I think the scariest part was when they started testing for stuff just to find out what it was," said Roberts, who has played in just four games this season. "Sure it scares you a little bit, but I assumed, the way I felt, I had a pretty good case of the flu or something, but the doctors were great and everything seems to be fine."

Roberts missed most of spring training with a herniated disk in his back, and he aggravated the injury when he dove into second base during the Orioles' home opener April 9. He was supposed to begin his rehab last week before he was hospitalized — another chapter in what has become among the most trying periods of Roberts' 10-season career.

"It's got to rank right up there, I would guess. Certainly," Roberts said. "Anytime you can't get out there, it's frustrating. It's trying. It tries your patience and your mental stability probably as much as anything."

Roberts took grounders and played catch at Camden Yards the past two days and said he feels fine, but it's now a matter of getting his strength back and increasing his participation in baseball activities. He's on the 60-day disabled list and is eligible to return June 9, which he said would "probably be pushing it at this point. But I guess it will just depend on what the progression is.""