Frank Viola 'resting comfortably' after surgery

A banner dedicated to '78 alum Frank Viola inside East Meadow High School.

Courtesy East Meadow School District

The New York Mets sent their well wishes to Viola on Wednesday via the scoreboard in Citifield.

Courtesy New York Mets on Twitter

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East Meadow High School alumni and former New York Met Frank Viola is “resting comfortably” after open-heart surgery on Wednesday, the team announced.

Viola, who graduated from East Meadow High School in 1978, and played baseball on the school’s team, pitched for 15 years in Major League Baseball.

A 176-game winner and 3-time All Star, Viola was the World Series MVP in 1987 as a member of the Minnesota Twins, and won the American League Cy Young Award in 1988.

He pitched on the Mets from 1989 to 1991.

Viola’s son, Frank Viola III, tweeted the night of the operation that “surgery went great."

One day earlier, Frank Viola Tweeted his thanks to his supporters.

Can't thank everybody enough for all the kind words and support! Will get through this surgery and be back soon. Good luck all affiliates!!

— Frank J. Viola, Jr. (@FrankViola16) April 2, 2014

Viola was set to begin the year as a Mets’ minor league pitching coach. But he will sit out this season following his surgery, according to the Mets.

Inside East Meadow High School’s gymnasium is a banner dedicated to Viola, who wore number 16 as an East Meadow Jet.

The gym also holds banners for two other EMHS alumnus who went on to play professional sports — Rich Mauti and Rich Ohrnberger (both football).