Braves outfielder Jose Constanza finally arrived in camp Friday after immigration delays in his native Dominican Republic.
Now the question is whether it’s too late for him to earn a spot on the big-league roster coming out of camp.
While Constanza was trying to return to the U.S., Jordan Schafer has been making a case for a job as the No. 4 outfielder with his bat, defense and speed. Schafer is out of options, which means he’d have to clear waivers if the Braves sent him down coming out of camp.
“I only can control going out there and playing hard and doing good,” Constanza said through interpreter Eddie Perez, a Braves coach. “I cannot control the other stuff.”
Constanza played in 42 games for the Braves in 2011 and 37 games last season. Over those two stints he hit .281 with two home runs, 14 RBI and a .332 on-base percentage with 12 stolen bases.
After playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, Constanza ran into visa issues when trying to report to Braves camp. Constanza, through Perez, said he was concerned about missing spring training but figured he would make join the Braves eventually.
“There was an investigation of every baseball player in the Dominican and I was the last guy,” he said. “That’s why it took too long.”
Constanza said he was working out with a personal trainer and coach in Santo Domingo while waiting for his immigration paperwork to clear.
