No this is not an article from 2009 or 2010 where Ronald Belisario reported to Spring Training late each year.  Both times were due to visa issues and many felt that Belisario waited until the last minute to actually try and obtain his visa.

In 2009, Belisario reported a few weeks late to Spring Training but was still able to make the team as a non-roster invitee.  In 2010 though, he missed most of Spring Training and started the season at extended Spring Training and in the minors before joining the club.  But Belisario’s situation this season is different reports Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.

Hernandez caught up with Belisario’s agent Paul Kinzer who said that his client may miss the entire season. Kinzer would not specify why Belisario was still in his native Venezuela. When asked if Belisario was having trouble securing a visa, Kinzer replied, “It goes a little deeper than that.” Kinzer said he didn’t think Belisario would be able to enter the United States at any time this year. “Unless some things change drastically, I’m not very optimistic at this point,” Kinzer said.

Belisario recently told a Venezuelan newspaper that he lost his passport and that he should be able to report to camp soon after obtaining a new one. P.S.- You are already late for camp.  He later added that he had an appointment on Friday (yesterday) to get a new passport and it shouldn’t be too long after until he is in camp.

When told about the latest news, Belisario’ agent Paul Kinzer said “That would be news to me.”

Belisario’s issues appear to stem from his DUI arrest in 2009.  Belisario also missed more than a month of the regular season to receive treatment in a substance-abuse program.

The Dodgers appeared to had some inclination or maybe learned their lesson from the past two seasons that Belisario can’t be counted on.  GM Ned Colletti went out and signed just about every past relief pitcher he could find (most on minor league deals, except Matt Guerrier three-year deal).

The most likely scenario, would be for the Dodgers to put Belisario on the restricted list which would remove him from the active roster, but allowing them to retain his rights when and if Belisario ever decides to grow up.