May 24
Oviedo received a pardon from the U.S. State Department, a mandatory requirement for eligibility for a visa to travel to the United States, a source told ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com. Oviedo told teammate Edward Mujica that he could return to the U.S. as early as June 1, the Miami Herald reports.
Recommendation: It's not clear when Oviedo will actually arrive in the U.S., but it sounds like he's cleared the biggest hurdle in his legal battle to return to MLB. However, he faces an eight-week suspension from MLB for playing under a false identity (he was formerly known as Leo Nunez) when he returns. With the pardon, he now needs the U.S. to issue him a visa to travel to the U.S. However, that's expected to happen at some point in the next two weeks. If all goes as quickly as possible, he could return to the Marlins in a setup role at some point in August.
