Rodriguez reports to camp after visa issue

VIERA, Fla. -- Relief pitcher Henry Rodriguez, a non-roster invitee this spring, has reported to Marlins camp after finally resolving a visa issue in his native Venezuela. If the right-hander passes a physical on Sunday, he could take the field with the club on Monday.

The Marlins signed the 27-year-old to a Minor League deal in January, after he spent last season with the Nationals and Cubs. A hard thrower with a history of control problems, Rodriguez appeared in 22 games overall, posting a 4.09 ERA, striking out 12 and walking 20 in 22 innings.

Miami manager Mike Redmond said that, assuming Rodriguez has been keeping up with his throwing while in Venezuela, he would not necessarily be very far off the pace. As a short reliever, he likely doesn't need a lot of time to build up his arm, but Redmond wants to get him on the mound to see where he is at this point.

"He's a couple weeks behind. It's just the way it goes," Redmond said. "It's nothing that really we can do about it now. It's just a matter now of getting him in camp and building him up, seeing where he's at, as far as his arm and how good a shape he's in, and start kind of planning out a progression for him to get out on the field and show us what he can do."