ARLINGTON, Texas _ An emotional Prince Fielder announced on Wednesday that his 12-year baseball career is over after doctors recommended that the slugger stop playing after a second cervical spinal fusion surgery.
Fielder, seated next to his two sons and with his wife and Texas Rangers teammates, coaches and personnel looking on, said that he was initially told that he needed to retire July 20 upon his first visit with a specialist.
Dr. Drew Dossett of Dallas, the Rangers' spine specialist, confirmed the recommendation and performed surgery July 29. Fielder, still wearing a neck brace as he recovers, is struggling with the sudden end to an All-Star career.
"The doctors told me, since two spinal fusions, I can't play major league baseball anymore," Fielder said, struggling to hold back tears. "I just want to thank my teammates, all the coaching staff. I'm really going to miss being around those guys. It's a lot of fun."
Fielder's agent, Scott Boras, said that Fielder first started to complain of neck pain last season and saw his condition worsen until he finally decided to see a doctor after a game at Anaheim on July 18.
The 32-year-old finishes his career with 319 homers, 1,028 RBIs, a .283 average and a .506 slugging percentage. The home run total matches that of his father.
But Fielder hit only 34 of those homers in parts of three seasons with the Rangers after joining them following a December 2013 trade from Detroit for second baseman Ian Kinsler.
Fielder tied Mitch Moreland in 2015 for the team lead with 23 homers and led the club with 98 RBIs and a .305 average en route to multiple postseason awards as the league's top comeback player.
But he managed only eight homers, 44 RBIs and a .212 average this season as numbness and loss of strength returned to his left arm and prevented him from getting enough lift when he made contact, similar to the symptoms he felt before having the C5 and C6 vertebrae fused in May 2014.
A herniated disk was discovered July 20 during an exam by Los Angeles-based specialist Dr. Robert Watkins, and Dossett performed a fusion of the C4 and C5 vertebrae July 29.
"I've been in a big-league clubhouse since I was their [his sons'] age," Fielder said. "To not be able to play is going to be tough. I'm happy I got to enjoy my career and play with these guys. They're awesome."
The Rangers have an insurance policy on Fielder's contract, though they will not receive any relief this season. Fielder is owed $96 million over the next four seasons, with the Tigers playing $26 million of it.
A source said that the Rangers will likely recoup $35 million through 2020. Fielder must remain on the 40-man roster during off-seasons and will be placed on the 60-day disabled list each spring training.
