Texas Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder certainly never expected he would be leaving Major League Baseball at the relatively young age of 32. Fielder will not be able to come back after a second neck surgery.
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Texas Ranger Prince Fielder announces the end of his 12-year playing career after his second neck surgery in 27 months at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
BELOIT, Wisc- One of the most well-known former Snappers, Prince Fielder, has made a decision to retire from professional baseball due to health reasons.
This is the second time Fielder will have undergone a neck surgery.
Fielder spoke about his wife Chanel who was present in the audience and Haven and Jadyn sitting beside him.
Fielder, who is signed through 2020, had a cervical fusion on July 29 to fix a herniation between two disks in his neck. The Rangers’ payroll, previously strapped heading into a two-year stretch, has more breathing room. Detroit, with a payroll that is pushing $200 million, remains on the hook for that money as long as Fielder can not play for medical reasons.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels acknowledged in a recent press conference that the team does have an insurance policy on Fielder, but declined to get into the specifics of it.
Fielder, who delivered the speech in a neck brace, fought back tears from behind the podium. The Texas slugger called his two sons his homies.
“I’ve been in a big league clubhouse since I was [my sons”] age. “Not being able to play is going to be tough”.
Fielder said that when he gets the brace off “This is killing me, this is awful”, he said he will be back with the AL West leaders. “I still have to be a father and take care of my kids, so you got to move on”.
He went on: “My boys, always, no matter what I was the best to them. You’re my two homies”.
As a testament to the type of person Fielder is, the entire coaching staff and team was in attendance. Over those eight seasons, he hit.286/.390/.528, with 283 home runs. He was a six-time All-Star, led the league with 50 home runs in 2007, and won three silver slugger awards.
Fielder will finish with the same career home run total as his father, Cecil, who was a major leaguer for 13 seasons with five teams.
Fielder isn’t retiring, because that would mean he would forfeit the $96 million remaining on his contract through the 2020 season.
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Fielder is just 32, and hasn’t played for the Rangers since July 18th.
