DeRosa undergoes successful heart procedure
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- 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, hourlong 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.
Manager Lou Piniella was pleased with the report he received.
"It was positive and successful. I think he's going home tonight and I think he'll be here this weekend," Piniella said after his team's 12-6 exhibition victory over San Francisco. "We'll give him a little rest, then we'll get him back to camp and working. I'm happy to see the problem has been corrected."
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 and 72 RBI in 149 games last year, his first season with the Cubs.
Cubs win exhibition opener: Kosuke Fukudome got on base every which way in his first exhibition game for the Cubs.
The Japanese newcomer was plunked on the first pitch he saw in the first inning, walked in his next turn and then hit an RBI single to help the Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 12-6 Thursday in an exhibition opener.
Fukudome answered all of one question in English afterward: "Is American baseball easy?"
"No!" he said with a smile, shaking his head for emphasis.
Mike Fontenot hit a 3-run homer and tripled, and Felix Pie homered and doubled for the Cubs. Ryan Theriot had 3 hits in the leadoff spot.
Much of the attention was on Fukudome. The 30-year-old made his debut in the United States as the Cubs' new right fielder and batted third after signing a four-year, $48 million contract in December.
"It will take him a little while to get acclimated to the pitching, but he got hit by a pitch and got a basehit to left field," manager Lou Piniella said. "Kosuke got started the right way. The key with him is seeing pitches."
Said Fukudome through in translator: "I like to see a lot of pitches and I like to try out some things in spring training. It's still spring training and all the signs are simple. I really didn't get one today.
"I'm happy that people are watching back in Japan."
Eyes on Fukudome: Japanese fans were equally as eager to keep up with Kosuke Fukudome. A big crew of Japanese media chronicled his debut.
Fukudome is coming off right elbow surgery in August that kept him out of the Japan Series. In nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, he batted .305 with 192 homers and a .397 on-base percentage. His team won its first championship in 53 years on Nov. 2.
He was the 2006 Central League MVP, batting .351 with 31 homers and 104 RBI. He won two batting titles and four Gold Gloves in Japan.
Giant hole in outfield: There was no Barry Bonds in San Francisco's outfield -- not that the departed and indicted home run king typically appeared in exhibition games this early, anyway.
Dave Roberts played left field in place of No. 25, while ex-White Sox Aaron Rowand made his Giants debut in center and batted the cleanup spot. Injured catcher Bengie Molina is set to bat fourth once he's healthy.
Rowand singled to left on the first pitch he saw, following Randy Winn's solo homer.
"He was taking over for Barry, I guess -- a home run his first time up," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
Cubs 12, Giants 6
Cubs' record: 1-0
On the mound: Ryan Dempster's switch to the rotation kicked out in the spring opener as he worked 2 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits while striking out two. Sean Gallagher followed Dempster with 2 innings of the same.
At the plate: Felix Pie had a double and a home run and scored 3 runs. Mike Fontenot hit a 3-run pinch homer and added a triple. Ryan Theriot, leading off, went 3-for-3 and scored 3 runs.
Next: The Cubs face the Giants again today, this time at home in Mesa.