Juan Carlos Oviedo was once the closer for the Florida Marlins. Not the current Miami Marlins, but last year’s edition, when he was known as Leo Nunez. He posted 36 saves for the team and had 92 in all for them from 2009-11.
Then Nunez/Oviedo was caught, having stolen an identity in the Dominican Republic. He was suspended by MLB for eight weeks, and in July reported to Marlins camp to work his way back to the major leagues. He had an elbow strain while rehabbing, and it got worse. Enrique Rojas:
Miami Marlins relief pitcher Juan Carlos Oviedo, also known as Leo Nunez, underwent Tommy John surgery on Thursday and is expected to miss most of the 2013 season, his agent told ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com.
“We hope everything comes out well and Juan Carlos can return toward the end of next year or in 2014”, said Oviedo’s agent, Andy Mota, Thursday from Pensacola, Fla, where Oviedo underwent the operation with Dr. James Andrews. “Relatively, Tommy John surgery has become a common procedure from which most pitchers come back.”
Oviedo will be a free agent after the 2012 season; he’ll be 32 shortly before the 2014 season begins, so where or whether he’ll ever pitch again is an open question.
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