Houston’s Aaron Boone returns to field 5 months after open heart surgery

Astros’ Boone back on field after heart surgery

CHICAGO — Aaron Boone ran to his position at first base and that’s when it really hit him. He was back, playing in a major league game for the first time since undergoing open heart surgery in late March.

“I was fine last night and all day today. And then running out there I was a little nervous, but I got into the flow of the game pretty quick,” Boone said Wednesday after his Houston Astros lost to the Chicago Cubs 2-0.

“At first, you know, you handle the ball a lot. It kinda gets you into it. Once we got going, it felt pretty good,” he added

Boone didn’t appear to be rusty, even though he went 0 for 3 with two fly outs and a ground out. He made one really nice play at first base, going to the ground to knock down a hard grounder by Chicago’s Jeff Baker in the second inning. He scrambled to retrieve the ball, picked it up and flipped to pitcher Felipe Paulino for the out.

“I didn’t have time to think about it,” Boone said. “So it worked out. It was good to get thrown right in the fire and get some action. All in all just really good to be out there, really rewarding.”

Boone signed with the Astros in the offseason, then had an operation on March 26 because of a congenital defect in his aortic valve. He has already completed a minor league rehab assignment.

The 36-year-old Boone is an 11-year veteran who began his major league career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1997. There have also been stops with Yankees, Indians and Marlins. He played last season with the Washington Nationals.

Astros teammates and coaches stood and applauded in the dugout when Boone — batting seventh — came to the plate in the second inning Wednesday. In his first at-bat since last Sept. 28, Boone flied out to left.

“It was a good day for him to get out there. And I’m glad he got a chance to do it,” Astros manager Cecil Cooper said.

Boone was in the on-deck circle when the Astros had two on in the ninth, but didn’t get to the plate when pinch-hitter Geoff Blum popped out to end the game. It crossed Boone’s mind that he might have a chance to deliver a big hit in his first game back.

“Sure that’s a little bit of a thought,” he said. “Hopefully get an opportunity with some runners on to impact the game. But it didn’t happen. Hopefully I’ll get in that position again.”

Boone broke bones in his right hand, right wrist and left thumb during the 2001 season, the result of being hit by pitches. And he missed the entire 2004 season after two knee operations — one those came after he tore a ligament in an offseason pickup basketball game.

Now he’s bounced back from something much more serious, an experience that reinforced how much he enjoys the game that has always been a big part of his life.

He comes from a big baseball family. His grandfather Ray, father Bob and brother Bret were all major leaguers.

“I feel like I’ve always had a pretty healthy perspective on how fortunate we are to be able to play this game. I’ve had some pretty significant injuries in my time, so I’ve always appreciated what it meant to go out there,” Boone said.

“I’ve always had a healthy appreciation for life and health and family and friends; maybe this heightened it or sharpened it a bit, but I wouldn’t say it was an epiphany.”

One of Boone’s signature moments came in 2003 when he hit a 11th-inning homer off Boston’s Tim Wakefield to clinch the AL Championship Series for the New York Yankees.

Since that heartbreaking loss, the Red Sox have two World Series titles.

“It’s kind of fun for them now, part of the lore now that they’ve won,” Boone added. “Now, if they hadn’t won, that (his homer) would still be a little more real, you know?”

Boone has mostly been a third baseman. Wednesday was his 103rd career game at first. He replaced Astros’ star Lance Berkman, who got a day to rest.

“I don’t know too many guys that would make the effort to come back from open-heart surgery,” Berkman said.

“It’s really incredible that he can, considering the procedure that he had done. I’m excited to see him out there. I thought he was done permanently, not just this year. It’s a testament to him to want to come back.”

Cubs catcher Koyie Hill also saluted Boone after seeing his name in the lineup while going over a pitching plan with Chicago starter Ted Lilly.

“Teddy and I both mentioned ‘good for him.’ It’s a great story,” Hill said. “I’m glad he’s back doing what he loves to do.”

Boone said he never set a date for his return, he just wanted to be in top condition should he have the opportunity.

“Once I was OK and I knew the surgery went well, I was going to try my best to get in shape and ready to play, whenever that was,” he said.

“That was my purpose, goal, focus. But whatever that led to, I didn’t care, either. If it didn’t allow me to get back, that would have been OK, too. From a time standpoint, it happened to work out, and here I am.”

AP freelance writer Mike Nadel contributed to this report.