Bryan Hoch:

Yankees broadcaster and former All-Star outfielder Bobby Murcer -- who underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor on Dec. 27 -- has been released from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the team announced Friday.

Murcer, 60, spent New Year's Eve with his family in Houston, before being cleared by doctors to return to his Oklahoma home on Tuesday. Murcer is said to be "up and around," and will report back to the Center early next week for further tests.

Quote from Mercer:

"Please tell all my friends up there how grateful I am for their prayers and well-wishes," Murcer told the Daily News by phone from his home in Oklahoma yesterday. "I'm feeling good and I'm grateful to have had the doctor I had for this surgery. I'm hopeful of being able to make it to the BAT dinner."