Gary Sanchez underwent heart surgery

February 19, 2011 by Mike Axisa 21 Comments

Via George King, Yankees number three prospect Gary Sanchez underwent heart surgery at a New York hospital this week. A recent test revealed that the 18-year-old backstop had an extra nerve in his heart, something he’s had since birth. The surgery cauterized the nerve, and Sanchez has been cleared by doctors to resume workouts on Monday. It couldn’t have been that serious if he’s able to resume baseball workouts so soon after the procedure, but sheesh, heart surgery is always scary.

http://twitter.com/AndrewLeighNYC Andrew

Best of luck to Sanchez, I hope that procedure is the end of his heart questions/issues. That’s crazy to have crop up when you’re 18, don’t they often find that kind of heart-related stuff at or before birth? If he’s cleared to work out, let’s hope it’s totally done with.
- Dr. O
  
  It’s not uncommon for these things to surprise you as you head towards your 20’s, although I will say its kind of surprising that it could happen like that to an athlete who one would assume has taken more than a couple of extensive physicals. Scary things our own bodies can be, like my uncle used to say as a mechanic about cars “I’ve inspected vehicles that looked perfect and 40 minutes out of the garage something is wrong without any cause”, sometimes shit just happens.
long time listener

Doesn’t sound like anything too serious. They just cauterized a nerve in his heart. Wait, they whatted a what in his where?
http://www.123blawg.blogspot.com LawStudent

Wow. Wish they’d tell us more about what exactly was the issue. I mean yeah, extra nerve in the heart, but what does that mean, how does it affect him… etc
http://bloodfarm.tumblr.com mattdamonwayans

From the sound of it, and a quick google search, this is a really safe outpatient procedure with a very high success rate. Good to hear the kid got it taken care of.
- Mooks
  
  My girlfriend had it done and we actually went to a Yankee game the next day since we were in the City already so yeah he should be fine.
  - Sayid J.
    
    But did she play in the Yankee game the next day?
    - Mooks
      
      No, she did drink rather heavily though. That’s gotta count for something.
Andy in Sunny Daytona

Red Sox prospects get cancer (then succeed), Yankee prospects have too much heart.

Kidding, PC crowd.
- Monteroisdinero
  
  or a lotta nerve.
- Delaware – Ralph
  
  +1 Well Played
http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

Now he’ll never be as good as David Eckstein. :(

All kidding aside, very glad he got this taken care of and seems to be okay.
Urban

What a gamer. Heart surgery and back playing baseball the following Monday.
http://www.retire21.org first name only male (formerly Mike R. – Retire 21)

“…catheter are inserted into the veins in the groin and run into the heart. The electrical system of the heart is mapped with these catheters. Once the abnormal extra nerve is identified, the steerable ablation catheter is positions on top of the abnormal electrical pathway. Radiofrequency energy is then delivered cauterizing the nerve and eliminating the heart’s ability to enter the abnormal rhythm. The patient’s heart is then tested to be certain that after the ablation, SVT can no longer be brought on. The tubes are then removed and usually later that day the patient is discharged home. ”

http://www.heartrhythmcenter.com/myweb2/svt_ablation.htm
http://yanksgoyard.com Andy_C_23

I hope this ceases all talk that the Red Sox are the only ones with too much heart
Hurling Darvish

I felt like I needed heart surgery after reading this headline — glad I lived long enough to read on. Scary though; imagine your doctor telling you that your baby needs heart surgery.
Nostra-Artist

Notice how the Yanks had him do this after all the prospect lists came out?

CONSPIRACY!
Nostra-Artist

Doctors tried to perform this procedure on A-Rod, but when they went in they discovered he has no heart. Which is why he is the suxorrrrrrrrr in deh clutchinessss
Jimmy McNulty

Imagine how much ass he’ll kick with a good ticker!!!!

In all seriousness I hope, for obvious reasons, that he comes back full strength. He’s a fun one to follow. Best of luck Manquito.
brazilian fan

probably he had an arrhythmia, probably extra systolic impulse, or even wolf parkinson white syndrome. The heart is evaluated previously with markers that maps the affected area that is destroyed, It is safe but sometimes it cant be effective. lets hope for the best
Slurve

Cardiologist here, Brazilian Fan is 100% right. Not surgery in the sense of cutting and stitching. Everything done with catheters through the veins. His condition is rarely fatal and usually correctable. Something would have to go crazily wrong during the procedure to threaten his career.