updated 4:11 p.m. ET Feb. 28, 2008

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa underwent what the club deemed a successful procedure Thursday in Chicago to correct an irregular heartbeat.

He was resting at Northwestern Memorial Hospital following the procedure, performed by Dr. Alan Kadish. DeRosa is expected back at spring training in Mesa by Sunday and is scheduled to resume baseball activity early next week, the team said.

The Cubs hope he can begin playing in exhibition games by March 8.

“I’ve made a few calls. His voicemail box is full,” shortstop Ryan Theriot said. “We’re anxious to have him back and he’s anxious to get back and contribute to this team. We can definitely use him. We’re looking forward to getting him back.”

Kadish, a cardiovascular electro physiologist, handled the high-tech, hour-long procedure called a radio frequency catheter ablation. It is a medical treatment that uses electrical energy to destroy tissues in the heart that are causing rhythmic disturbances.

The infielder experienced an irregular heartbeat Saturday during a workout and spent the night in a Mesa hospital. He returned to Chicago on Monday and underwent a medical evaluation Tuesday.

Manager Lou Piniella was pleased with the report he received on DeRosa’s situation.

“It was positive and successful. I think he’s going home tonight and I think he’ll be here this weekend,” Piniella said after his team’s 12-6 exhibition win over San Francisco. “We’ll give him a little rest, then we’ll get him back to camp and working. I’m happy to see the problem has been corrected.”

DeRosa, who turned 33 earlier this month, said this week he’d had the condition since he was a teenager.

He batted .293 with 10 home runs and 72 RBIs in 149 games last year in his first season with the Cubs.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Cuban ‘not on prowl’ for Dodgers, or any team Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay Damon, Matsui and Pettitte all could return MLB blog: Red Sox preparing to spend big bucks? Yankees’ Jeter, Teixeira win Gold Gloves Scully to broadcast in 2010, then decide future Blog: Cards ‘have options’ if they can’t keep Holliday   Baseball GMs pass on expanding instant replay Martin, Herzog, Murtaugh and Mauch on Hall ballot Free agents   Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: