Major League Baseball

Ex-Pirates closer Kent Tekulve has heart transplant surgery

Published Sep. 16, 2014 7:40 p.m. ET

foxsports

Former Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Kent Tekulve is recovering from heart transplant surgery.

Allegheny General Hospital said Tuesday the 67-year-old Tekulve was discharged Friday after the Sept. 5 operation. Tekulve works for Root Sports Pittsburgh, regularly appearing on studio shows before and after Pirates games.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review first reported the surgery in an interview with Tekulve on Monday night.

His surgeon, Dr. Stephen Bailey, says Tekulve is doing ''extremely well'' and should be ''resuming normal daily activities very soon.'' Tekulve hopes to return to his TV duties by spring training.

Tekulve thanked his family and friends, the Pirates, Root Sports and the medical staff. He expressed ''eternal gratitude for the gift of life that I received through organ donation.''