Heart-healthy DeRosa grateful to be back

MESA, Ariz. -- If the worst thing that happens to Mark DeRosa is that he can't visit his local barrista or pop the top on a cold one for a few weeks, he'll be just fine.

The Cubs' second baseman returned to HoHoKam Park on Sunday, three days after undergoing a surgical procedure in Chicago to correct an irregular heartbeat.

"Obviously, I've got to change my lifestyle a little bit," he said. "I can't have Starbucks for a month, no beer for a month. Certain things like that are definitely a wakeup call. It's unbelievable with modern medicine, what they're able to accomplish now."

DeRosa got a scare on Feb. 23, when he had to be taken to a Mesa hospital after complaining of a rapid heartbeat, a condition he had suffered from since his teenage years.

Doctors diagnosed the problem as an atrial arrhythmia, and DeRosa underwent a radio frequency catheter ablation, during which tissue causing the problem was destroyed.

The 33-year-old infielder said he'll return to workouts today with the hope of playing in a Cactus League game by next Monday. Although admittedly behind schedule, he said he'll have no trouble being ready for Opening Day.

"For me, it's peace of mind, to be honest with you, because it's something I've dealt with for so long," he said. "I kind of always feared that this day would come, where I'd have to get it fixed. I didn't know the severity of it. I just kind of went along. It gives me kind of a new lease on life and run around and not have to worry about it."

He reiterated the problem was never life-threatening, but that he faced two choices: taking medication for the rest of his life or getting the surgery.

DeRosa joked that he was glad the Cubs didn't trade for Baltimore's Brian Roberts to play second base while he was gone.

"You know, if that was the case, it would be pretty terrible," he said. "I'd have had to have a word with somebody. At least now, they see me I the flesh, and they know I'm alive."