Didi Gregorius ready to arrive in Phillies camp after visa delay

Didi Gregorius’ late arrival to spring training won’t keep him from being ready to start the season on time, according to Phillies manager Joe Girardi.

Gregorius is one of seven Phillies players who have not yet reported to camp because of visa issues. The veteran shortstop is due into Clearwater, Fla., on Friday, four days after the first full-squad workout, for COVID-19 intake screening, the final step before he’s cleared to take the field for workouts.

“I would expect that Didi’s in pretty good shape because that’s who he is and that’s what I’m used to seeing,” Girardi said Thursday. “I think he’ll be ready at normal time. I’m not too concerned about him being ready for the season.”

Gregorius, a native of Curaçao, signed a two-year, $28 million contract last month to return to the team as a free agent. He batted .284 with 10 homers and an .827 OPS last season.

Minor-league catcher Christian Bethancourt was scheduled to do his intake testing Thursday, according to Girardi, while pitchers Ranger Suárez and Francisco Morales will go through the process Saturday and reliever Mauricio Llovera on Sunday. The Phillies don’t have arrival dates for minor-league outfielder Simon Muzziotti and reliever Neftalí Feliz.

Girardi said the visa process is slower than usual this year because of the pandemic. The Phillies play their first exhibition game Sunday against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. It’s doubtful that Gregorius would begin playing in games until late next week.

» READ MORE: Bryce Harper’s offseason went from worrying to ‘whoa’ when Phillies hired Dave Dombrowski

Twelve Phillies exhibition games, beginning with Monday’s home opener against the Baltimore Orioles, will be televised, NBC Sports Philadelphia announced.

Four games -- March 13, March 20, March 21, March 28 -- will air on NBCSP; eight games -- March 1, March 4, March 5, March 10, March 17, March 25, and March 29 -- will air on NBCSP+. All games are 1:05 p.m. starts except March 25, a 6:05 p.m. game against the New York Yankees.

The Phillies hired Ceci Craft to lead an expanded, five-person mental performance department. She spent six seasons as the Cleveland Indians mental performance coach. ... The Phillies announced a six-year agreement with BayCare Health Systems to rename their 8,500-seat spring-training stadium BayCare Ballpark. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.