Rondon misses day of workouts with illness

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Tigers made it through a week of Spring Training workouts without a notable absence, but reliever Bruce Rondon was missing Friday.

Manager Brad Ausmus said Friday afternoon that the hard-throwing reliever was sent home from Tigertown with illness before workouts began.

"Rondon was sick today," Ausmus said. "Nothing major, but just to be safe, he was sent home."

Rondon was in the clubhouse at Joker Marchant Stadium Friday morning and took part in the Venezuelan Tigers' show of support for folks back home. Soon after that, he was spotted in street clothes leaving the facility.

"He was here, and there was some question whether he could go out or not," Ausmus said. "But I think in the end, the proper decision was made. … We don't want anything lingering or getting anyone else sick."

Ausmus said the illness probably wasn't enough to be classified as flu-like symptoms.

Rondon was not scheduled to throw Friday. He threw a full session of live batting practice on Thursday, which would put him on track to throw again on Sunday.