Dr. Drew Dossett of Dallas, the Rangers’ spine specialist, confirmed the recommendation and performed surgery July 29.
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Fielder was the seventh overall pick by the Brewers in 2002.
Going back a little further, to 2007, Fielder drove in over 100 runs in six of the subsequent seven seasons, hitting at least 25 home runs in eight straight campaigns from 2006-2013.
He signed a nine-year, $214 million deal with Detroit before the 2012 season, and is still owed $106 million-$10 million for the remained of the year and $24 million in each of the next four seasons.
The Tigers traded him to the Rangers in the 2013 offseason in exchange for second baseman Ian Kinsler.
Fielder, 32, wore a neck brace 12 days after his second cervical fusion in two years.
This is the second time Fielder will have undergone a neck surgery. After surgery which put him out for that season, he cameback strong in the 2015 season and now has suffered the same neck injury this year, which will now require surgery and will put him out for the year, and now it seems, for his career.
Prince Fielder wipes a tear from his eye during Wednesday’s press conference.
ABOVE VIDEO: Prince Fielder hammers a solo shot over the right-field fence for the 300th home run of his career on June 26.
Fielder thanked just about everybody, including his wife for always helping him to stay positive, and cried some more when looking to his sons, saying, “I’ve been in a big league clubhouse since I was their age”.
Fielder, who has named after the late Minnesota singer, walks away with a successful career that spanned 12 seasons. “Because they don’t play”, Fielder said. He herniated a disk his first season with Texas and had surgery that ended his season in May of 2014.
While playing with the Brewers, Fielder was an iron man for the team.
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All of Fielder’s teammates, along with Texas Rangers coaches and staff, filled the interview room to support him. His career slash line is.283/.382/.506 (134 OPS+) with 321 doubles, 319 home runs, 1,028 RBI and 862 runs. In an odd twist of fate, Prince will finish his career with 319 home runs, the same number as Cecil, who played for the Tigers from 1990 to 1996.
