Boone Stepping Closer to Comeback with Express

ROUND ROCK - More than four months after undergoing open heart surgery to repair an enlarged aorta, infielder Aaron Boone will begin the second-stint of a Minor League rehab assignment Saturday, Aug. 22 with the Triple-A Round Rock Express.

Boone, 36, is aiming to return to the Houston Astros' line-up when rosters expand on Sept. 1. He is scheduled to appear in at least four games for Round Rock over a five day period, playing on an inning-limited basis.

Boone began his initial comeback with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks on Aug. 10, where he has collected three hits, including a double, over 15 at-bats, appearing at first base in two games and third base in five others.

Boone signed with Houston as a free agent during the off-season and announced his diagnosis during Spring Training. He has been on the disabled list since March 27.

Boone was drafted out of Villa Park High School (Cali.) in 1991, but spent three seasons with the University of Southern California before being drafted by Cincinnati in the third round of the 1994 draft. He hit a career-best 26 home runs for the Reds in 2002, driving in 87 runs and scoring 83 more.

An All-Star in 2003, Boone has appeared with the Reds (1997-2003), New York (AL, 2003), Cleveland (2005-2006), Florida (2007) and Washington (2008). He is a career .264 hitter with 555 RBI in 1,142 Major League games.