The Rangers have announced a press conference Wednesday where Fielder is expected to announce that his career is over, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Fielder was also a showman, one of the game’s most entertaining players.
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Fielder’s not officially retiring, because that would mean forfeiting the final $72 million on his contract.
Fielder, who signed a nine-year, $214 million deal in 2012, is owed $24 million annually through 2020.
Texas Rangers’ Prince Fielder, left, wipes his eyes as he sits by his son Haven during a news conference on Wednesday.
Fielder first had surgery in 2014 to fuse two herniated disks in his neck. The prodigal son of former Major League Baseball slugger Cecil Fielder, what the heavy-set Prince lacked in athleticism and fielding ability-no pun intended-he made up for in sheer hitting prowess.
Fielder was struggling prior to the season-ending injury, batting.212 with eight homers and 44 RBIs. “I still have to be a father and take care of my kids, so you got to move on”. He has a.283 career batting average, .506 slugging percentage, .887 on-base plus slugging percentage and 1,028 RBI with the Milwaukee Brewers, Tigers and Rangers over 12 seasons. The operation was his second neck surgery since 2014.
Fielder said he doesn’t plan to remain in the game in any capacity for the time being. He was the seventh pick of the 2002 draft and made his Major League Baseball debut in 2005 for the Brewers. He bashed 50 home runs in 2007 and almost reached it again in 2009. Fielder hit 50 home runs as a 23 year old sophomore in 2007, giving him a spot on the All-Star team. They have been regulars at the ballpark with their dad, much like he often was with his father, Cecil, a slugger who played 13 seasons for five teams. Though one does have to wonder whether the Rangers might see Jurickson Profar as a viable center field option if Desmond ends up leaving after the season.
Once one of the most durable players in the game, Fielder hangs up his cleats after an injury-riddled two-and-a-half seasons with the Rangers.
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Fielder, who has named after the late Minnesota singer, walks away with a successful career that spanned 12 seasons.
