The Texas Rangers announced on Wednesday in a press conference that veteran slugger Prince Fielder, 32, will be forced to end his playing career due to ongoing neck problems. Fielder experienced serious neck surgery at the end of last month, his second in almost exactly two years. Fielder underwent a similar procedure in 2014, his first season with Texas.
Prince Fielder’s Playing Career Is Over
Fielder, fighting back tears while addressing the media at Globe Life Park, stated that his family and his teammates are his biggest inspiration.
“When I told my kids they didn’t even let me get down on myself,” Fielder said. “They were just like ‘okay it will be alright dad, lets just play video games.’”
Fielder said doctors told him even before the surgery that they would not advise him to continue playing baseball. He stated that the moment of truth came to him when he was unable to walk in a straight line during a medical test.
“The doctor told me just to walk in a straight line and I couldn’t do it,” he said. “I mean I could do it but there was way too much brain involved, my body couldn’t do it.”
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