Juan Carlos Oviedo finally arrived in the United States today after receiving a travel visa, but it will be a while before he’s pitching for the Marlins again.
Major League Baseball announced this afternoon that Oviedo has been suspended eight weeks for engaging in age and identity fraud. Ovideo, formerly known as Leo Nunez, has been working through legal issues in his Dominican Republic after admitting to falsifying his identity last September. The suspension takes effect immediately and he’ll be eligible to rejoin the Marlins on July 23 against the Braves.
Oviedo saved 92 games for the Marlins from 2009-2011 while posting a 3.86 ERA and solid secondary numbers, but the team signed Heath Bell to a three-year, $32 million contract during the offseason to take over as closer. While that contract hasn’t worked out so well thus far, Bell will likely be given every opportunity to keep his job.
