MIAMI - Former Devil Rays slugger Jose Canseco was released from jail Wednesday after making a special request to be freed for a five-day visit with his 6-year-old daughter.
Canseco, the AL MVP in 1988, has been in jail for 12 days since his arrest for a second alleged violation of probation imposed for a nightclub scuffle. He had been ordered jailed until a court hearing July 21 on a charge that a urine test came up positive for illegal steroids.
Canseco's daughter, Josie, is visiting from Los Angeles with his ex-wife, Jessica, who was in court for the hearing. The judge said he hoped the visit might help the couple reconcile.
"This is not about you. This time it's about the child," Circuit Judge Leonard Glick told Canseco. "Don't screw up."
The judge ordered Canseco to submit to a drug test during his jail furlough, which ends Monday.
The Miami native will be required to surrender to the judge in court that day. He lowered his head when the judge announced the decision.
Canseco, who turned 39 Wednesday, thanked the judge and assured him that he understood the conditions of his release on house arrest, which was allowed over prosecution objections. Canseco's ex-wife and child will stay with him at his suburban Davie home.
Walking free, Canseco said it was "a great birthday." Asked about his plans for the long holiday weekend, he said, "Right now it's just to be with my daughter." Bystanders shouted his name as he walked out of the courthouse.
Canseco retired from baseball last year. He recently said that if he came back, he would like to return to the Rays.
