Former major-league pitcher Frank Viola is scheduled to undergo open-heart surgery next week that will keep him from serving as a Triple-A pitching coach for the New York Mets this season.
The 53-year-old Viola, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 1988 when he posted a 24-7 record for the Minnesota Twins, was diagnosed with a heart condition after a physical during spring training. ESPNNewYork.com reported Tuesday.
After working as a Class A pitching coach for the past three seasons in the Mets' organization, he was to move up to triple-A Las Vegas in the Pacific Coast League this year to work with some of New York's top prospects. Ron Romanick is expected to take his place.
Viola's three-year pitching stint with the Mets included a 20-win season in 1990. In eight years with the Twins, Viola logged 112 of his 176 career regular-season victories. The three-time All-Star's career highlights include being named World Series MVP in 1987 .
Viola retired as a pitcher at age 36 after six games with the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1996 season.
