Houston Astros’ Aaron Boone To Have Heart Surgery (Photos)

Posted on March 18, 2009

Houston Astros’ Aaron Boone will need heart surgery that could actually end his baseball career. Read more on Aaron Boone’s heart condition and surgery below.

Aaron Boone revealed he will need heart surgery for his heart condition.

“I have been diagnosed as having a heart condition involving the aorta and aortic valve,” Boone told reporters at the Astros’ spring training complex in Kissimmee, Florida.

Boone, 36, who played last season with the Washington Nationals, said the surgery is not an emergency situation and that he had known about the heart condition since college.

“Initially, my doctors thought I could delay corrective surgery for some time but because of some variations in my condition they are now advising me to deal with the problem sooner rather than later,” he said.

“Am I going to recover well enough to play baseball again? Probably. Will I play baseball again? I don’t know at this time. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Boone intends to schedule the surgery this week.

Aaron Boone, all All-Star in 2003, has a career .264 batting average with 126 home runs and 555 RBIs over 11 seasons with five clubs.

He is the son of four-times All-Star catcher and manager Bob Boone, and the brother of three-times All-Star second baseman Bret Boone.

“It definitely hits home but I’m doing well with it,” Boone said of the surgery. “I’m fairly educated about it now, and I have a strong faith and a great family and friends and team mates.

“I’m ready to tackle this thing and get it behind me and get on with life.”

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