Visa Paperwork to Delay Ishii

Kazuhisa Ishii wanted to complete contract negotiations with the Dodgers quickly so he could be the first player in the team’s spring training complex at Vero Beach, Fla., Thursday. As it turns out, the Japanese pitcher will probably be the last player to report.

Ishii said Monday he might be late for spring training because he is still waiting for a visa from the U.S. government. The left-hander could not apply for the visa until Friday, the day he signed a four-year, $12.2-million contract with the Dodgers.

“We hope to have him early next week, but it’s a guessing game,” said Derrick Hall, the Dodgers’ senior vice president for communications. “But the good thing is he’s been throwing all along, and he’s ready to go.”

Mike DiGiovanna