The Texas Rangers report that team president and CEO Nolan Ryan has left the Houston hospital where he underwent a series of precautionary tests Monday for what is believed to be a recurring heart condition.
Ryan, 64, went to the hospital after experiencing discomfort early Sunday morning at his home in Georgetown, the Rangers said in a news release Monday.
The tests indicated no new developments in the recurrence of Ryan's heart condition, the Rangers said in a statement later Monday. His heart condition will continue to be treated with medication, the team said.
The Rangers said Ryan is expected to be rest at home for the next few days before resuming his duties with the team.
In April 2000, Ryan had emergency double-bypass surgery after his wife drove him to the hospital when he experienced chest pains and shortness of breath during a morning walk.
During the two-hour operation in 2000, doctors at Heart Hospital of Austin cleared an arterial blockage.
The electrocardiogram and blood tests done in 2000 showed Ryan did not have a heart attack, according to Rangers spokesman John Blake. The Ryan family said at the time that there is a family history of heart-related problems and that doctors told the family that heredity played a large part in Ryan's condition.
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A Fort Worth cardiologist said it's not unusual for bypass patients to suffer chest pain years later.
"Actually it's fairly common," said Dr. Sreenivas Gudimetla of Texas Health Fort Worth Hospital. "This is about the time -- 10 years post-bypass -- when some of the bypasses start wearing out."
He said for patients who don't suffer a serious heart attack, treating the condition with medicine is routine.
Remember Ryan is tough as nails, ask Robin Ventura or watch this clip from August 4, 1993.
Ryan, after a record 27-year career in the majors, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. He currently holds the league record for career strikeouts (5,714) and the most no-hitters (7).
Ryan played for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers before retiring in 1993. The Angels, Astros and Rangers all retired his number, 34.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
