He had pitched well last season at their single-A affiliate in Lakewood and had kept himself sharp in a Nicaraguan winter league before returning to the Dominican Republic to spend time with his wife, Nicole, and his daughter, Jairanni, who turns 2 next month. He has not seen the Dursos since Labor Day, when he threw five solid innings in Lakewood's season finale, when John and Katie took him out for a quick dinner after the game, then shuttled him back to the ballpark so he could catch a flight home. He has not seen Nicole and Jairanni since March 4, when he flew from the Dominican to Clearwater, to begin minor-league spring training and prepare to pitch for the Clearwater Threshers in the Florida State League. All of this was expected. All of it looked relatively promising.