SAN DIEGO — Padres reliever Doug Brocail was activated from the disabled list Thursday, a little over four months after undergoing the first of two heart angioplasties during the spring.
"I think that the doctor did such a good job that it was one of those things that if I was willing and not scared to come back, which obviously I wasn't, that everything would go fine," Brocail said after a team workout Thursday afternoon. "And it's gone fine. There hasn't been a single problem.
"My wife's flying out just to make sure it's really me out there," Brocail joked.
The big right-hander will be available in the bullpen starting tonight against the Atlanta Braves. To make room on the roster, right-hander Scott Cassidy was optioned to Triple-A Portland.
Brocail has been low-key throughout his ordeal, although he realizes it could have been much more serious.
The 39-year-old underwent the first angioplasty on March 11 during spring training to clear a 99-percent blockage of the left anterior descending artery. He had complained of chest tightness that radiated into both arms. He already was being treated for an abscessed tooth and asthma.
A doctor ordered a stress test, which came back abnormal.
After the angioplasty, in which a balloon is inserted to open the artery, a stent was inserted to ensure the artery remains open.
"I keep saying it's all hit me," said Brocail, who made a rehab assignment with Class A Lake Elsinore. "I went down and had a good time with the kids in Elsinore, and talked to the coaches and how the attitude was the day that they found out. It kind of shocked me how everybody was so scared for me.
"Obviously I appreciate that and I appreciate all the prayers, but it was one of those things where I never felt like — other than seeing the panic in the nurse's face when they told me, 'Oh my God, don't panic but you need to go to the hospital' — I never had the panic of, 'Oh my God, this could be it.' Now, I've sat back and said, 'Oh my God, if I had pitched that night, I could have been dead.' I realize that. But I'm a very blessed man."
Brocail underwent a second angioplasty on April 10 after tests found a coronary blockage separate from the one that required the first surgery.
"Forget his talent; we signed him to help out in the bullpen, but with all he's gone through, it's going to be special to see Doug out there competing again," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We know how close he was to not being with us in spring training, with the situation with the heart. We're just thankful it was discovered. Now it looks like he's back to where he was.
"It's been a long road for him and he's had some setbacks," Bochy said. "But he's so tough mentally that he's dealt with it in a great way, and now he's ready to go, and he's looking forward to helping this team and he will definitely contribute."
Brocail tweaked his groin when he slipped on the mound recently, but otherwise said he feels fine.
Brocail signed a $1 million free-agent deal in December.
He was San Diego's first-round pick in the 1986 amateur draft and pitched with the Padres from 1992-94, going 4-13 with a 4.86 ERA in 39 games, including 27 starts.
Brocail was with the Texas Rangers the last two seasons. He was 5-3 with a 5.52 ERA and one save in 61 games in 2005.