SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa underwent what the club deemed a successful procedure Thursday in Chicago to correct an irregular heartbeat.
He was resting at Northwestern Memorial Hospital following the procedure, performed by Dr. Alan Kadish. DeRosa is expected back at spring training in Mesa by Sunday and is scheduled to resume baseball activity early next week, the team said.
The Cubs hope he can begin playing in exhibition games by March 8.
“I’ve made a few calls. His voicemail box is full,” shortstop Ryan Theriot said. “We’re anxious to have him back and he’s anxious to get back and contribute to this team. We can definitely use him. We’re looking forward to getting him back.”
Kadish, a cardiovascular electro physiologist, handled the high-tech, hour-long procedure called a radio frequency catheter ablation. It is a medical treatment that uses electrical energy to destroy tissues in the heart that are causing rhythmic disturbances.
The infielder experienced an irregular heartbeat Saturday during a workout and spent the night in a Mesa hospital. He returned to Chicago on Monday and underwent a medical evaluation Tuesday.
DeRosa, who turned 33 earlier this month, said this week he’d had the condition since he was a teenager.
He batted .293 with 10 home runs, 28 doubles, three triples and 72 RBIs in 149 games last year in his first season with the Cubs.
Add A Comment