FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins pitchers and catchers aren't scheduled to officially report until Sunday, but already the team has been informed that at least one player's arrival will be delayed.

Left-hander Francisco Liriano is expected to miss a few days of camp following some problems he's had obtaining his work visa from the U.S. Consulate in the Dominican Republic.

Liriano had planned to fly to Fort Myers on Friday, but his visa application was flagged Wednesday due to a previous drunk driving arrest in March 2006 in Cape Coral, Fla.

As part of a memorandum passed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last summer, visa applicants must be referred to panel physicians if they "have a single drunk driving arrest or conviction within the last three calendar years." The applicants must undergo a counseling session and also pass a sobriety test.

Despite the delay, Twins general manager Bill Smith said that Liriano had done everything according to schedule because the new order from the State Department was unknown to anyone in the organization.

"This was passed last June and unfortunately nobody knew about it," Smith said. "MLB didn't know about it, the clubs didn't know about. It's just something we'll work with and help him to follow all the guidelines."

Liriano had an appointment scheduled for Friday to hopefully take care of the issue. Smith said the Twins have been in contact with Liriano's agent, Greg Genske, to get updates on the situation.

The hope is that Liriano will be in camp sometime early next week, although this new process could delay the pitcher's arrival as long as 10 days.

"[The Twins] told me to take it easy and not to worry, that everything is going to come out OK," Liriano told The Associated Press on Friday.

Liriano's delayed arrival is a small setback for the pitcher who missed the entire 2007 season due to Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery on his left arm. During the team's annual TwinsFest three weeks ago, Liriano expressed that he has been very eager to get to Fort Myers and show the team he's ready to start the year in the club's rotation.

The 24-year-old has been preparing normally for Spring Training after he was released from his year-long rehabilitation program. Since then, the southpaw has been working out at the club's Dominican Academy. Smith said that along with throwing bullpen sessions, Liriano recently pitched two innings of a scrimmage there for what was supposed to be his final tune-up before arriving in Florida.

But while it's disappointing that Liriano will not be in camp on the very first day, the team said that it's not a significant setback.

"He's in good shape and he's been throwing regularly," Smith said. "He's just been delayed a few days. We'll get him here as soon as he can."

Early arrivals: Reporting day is still two days away, but there have been plenty of familiar faces already working out at the Lee County Sports Complex.

More than 30 Major and Minor League players took part in the voluntary workout Friday morning on the back fields of the complex. Among those who have been on hand for these workouts all week are pitchers Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Glen Perkins and Jesse Crain, all of whom have also been throwing off the mound.

Joe Mauer caught a few pitcher's bullpens Friday morning, including Crain, who appeared to be looking strong just a little more than eight months after undergoing right shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff.

Some of the new faces to join the workout group on Friday were pitchers Phil Humber and Kevin Mulvey, who were acquired from the Mets in the Johan Santana trade.

The first official workout for pitchers and catchers will take place on Monday.

New season, new look: The Twins roster underwent its share of changes this offseason, but so too did the team's Spring Training complex.

Every year, the complex gets some slight upgrades. This year, new lights were installed at Hammond Stadium and the seats inside the ballpark were also replaced following years of sun-bleaching. One additional upgrade that took place was the installation of a new batter's eye to help players see better during the afternoon games.

Former Twin update: Catcher Matthew LeCroy signed a Minor League contract with the Oakland A's on Friday.

LeCroy, 32, spent most of the 2007 season with Triple-A Rochester, where he batted .194 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 80 games. LeCroy was called up to the Twins in early September following a rash of injuries to the catching staff.

The A's signed LeCroy to the deal after catcher Jeremy Brown, who was also invited to Oakland's Spring Training, announced that he was retiring. While LeCroy eventually hopes to go into coaching, he said at the time of his call-up with the Twins last season that his hope was to play at least one more year.