Giants hope Cueto will make camp debut 'later this week'

Johnny Cueto may finally be on his way to spring training camp.

The San Francisco Giants starter has been absent thus far as he remained in the Dominican Republic to take care of his ill father. Cueto, however, is currently in the process of securing a visa for his father to travel to the United States, and general manager Bobby Evans believes the paperwork will be resolved soon, allowing the pitcher to hopefully rejoin the team.

"Later this week is our hope," Evans told MLB.com's Chris Haft.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters last week that Cueto's desire to pitch for the Dominican at the World Baseball Classic was starting to become "a slight concern," with the tournament set to get underway March 9.

And while the 31-year-old hurler is keeping the Giants updated with his throwing - he's been providing the club with video of him pitching at the team's complex in the Dominican - Evans admitted there could be a chance the Giants don't allow him to join his country at the international competition next month if he doesn't report to camp soon enough.

"When he gets over here, it'll be a matter of how much we want him to do before he pitches in a game," Evans said. "That's something that Rags (pitching coach Dave Righetti) and he will have to discuss."