Major League Baseball

Surgery set for Uecker | Second procedure to fix tear will be Tuesday /

Published Oct. 15, 2010 10:10 p.m. ET

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Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Uecker is headed back to the operating room next week for more open-heart surgery.

The Milwaukee Brewers announced that Uecker, 75, will have a second surgery Tuesday at Froedtert Hospital.

The team said the surgery is needed because of a pseudoaneurysm, or tear, at the site of his valve replacement.

"It is believed that this occurred due to a skin-related staph infection which entered the bloodstream and seeded itself into his surgical repair site," the Brewers said in a statement. "He acquired the infection roughly six weeks after his initial procedure on April 30 of this year. Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin cardiothoracic surgeon Alfred C. Nicolosi performed the first surgery and will operate in Tuesday's procedure as well." In the the Brewers' statement, Uecker said: "I'm approaching this with the same optimism that I had the first time, and I appreciate all of the kind thoughts and well wishes from Brewers fans and everyone who has reached out to me." Uecker added that he expected to be ready to get back to work before spring training next year.

The recovery time for the surgery is projected to be a minimum of eight weeks.

"Bob's heart is stronger now following his initial operation and therefore I think he will tolerate this operation very well," said James Kleczka, a Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin cardiologist.

Uecker, who just completed his 40th year broadcasting Brewers baseball, first learned of his heart problem last fall but had hoped to make it through the 2010 season. But his condition worsened early in the season and he elected to have the surgery early.

Uecker also was coming off surgery last January in which part of his pancreas was removed.

Uecker returned to the broadcast booth in July after enduring a setback with a staph infection. He gradually worked his way back full-time.