JUPITER, Fla. -- Marlins closer A.J. Ramos is being eased into Spring Training as a precaution due to a strained right calf.
The 29-year-old right-hander maintains the ailment is minor, but it may cause him to be about a week behind the rest of the pitchers.
Ramos' arm is fine, even throwing a bullpen session without incident on Friday. But rather than risk putting extra stress on his calf, he is being held out of pitchers' fielding practice (PFP) drills.
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"My arm is good," Ramos said. "I had a little bit of a problem with my calf. Other than that, my arm is really, really good. I'm having a little problem with my push-off leg."
The past few days, Ramos has been doing controlled drills under the watch of head athletic trainer Sean Cunningham.
"The only reason I'm not going in PFPs and stuff is I don't want to make a move on it," Ramos said. "Pitching is fine."
Ramos first experienced discomfort in his calf while doing offseason workouts in the Los Angeles area. About 10 days before the start of Spring Training, he was running sprints when he tweaked his calf. He immediately called the Marlins.
"I let them know what was going on," Ramos said. "They said, 'Take it easy for a bit.' That's what I did."

Ramos, who assumed the closer role last May, has been one of Miami's most durable and dependable relievers the past few seasons. He saved 32 of 38 chances in 2015, and he logged 70 1/3 innings.
"Arm-wise, I'd be able to throw in a game today," Ramos said. "As far as calf-wise, you can't tell the other team, 'Don't bunt or make me cover first.' So right now it is just a strained calf."
Ramos enters Spring Training as a front-runner to remain the closer, but the organization has noted that hard-throwing righty Carter Capps also profiles as a closer at some point in his career.
Capps will have the opportunity to win the closer job in Spring Training, however, the general feeling is if Ramos performs as expected, he will at least open the season getting the first save opportunities.