DeRosa to be examined Monday

Feb 24, 2008 - 6:21 PM MESA, Arizona (Ticker) -- Chicago Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa, who was hospitalized Saturday with an irregular heartbeat, will undergo a thorough examination before he is allowed back on the field.

DeRosa will be examined by a cardiologist on Monday, the Cubs announced Sunday. Following the checkup, the team's medical staff will determine a treatment plan.

DeRosa, who turns 33 on Tuesday, was fielding grounders during during infield practice when he began to have trouble breathing. He left the field on a stretcher and was taken to Banner Desert Medical Center for observation before being released Saturday night.

"He's completely stable, but better to be safe than sorry, with the irregular heartbeat and so forth," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "They took him to a hospital to test him. He's fine."

Piniella said DeRosa has suffered from the problem in the past and has learned to manage it most of the time.

"He's had this before and he's been able to modify it with breathing exercises," Piniella told the Chicago Tribune. "But (Saturday) it didn't go away. I talked to him. He was a little nervous but outside that, he's OK."

DeRosa was the Cubs' most versatile player last season, batting .293 with 10 homers and 72 RBI in his first year with the team. He is expected to be Chicago's everyday second baseman this season.

DeRosa has a career batting average of .278 with 48 home runs and 265 RBI for Atlanta, Texas and the Cubs.