Heartbreaking: A very loyal Texas Rangers has announced his sudden retirement, sending a powerful statement and bidding the team and supporters a heartfelt farewell
Texas’s Arlington Prince Fielder’s comments, not the tears that fell down his face, perfectly captured the intense anguish of seeing a once-talented career cut short.
According to Fielder, “this is actually the most fun I’ve ever had and the best I ever felt mentally about baseball,” he stated on Wednesday. That is the actual source of pain. My body just gave out, but my mind was still functioning well.”
A tearful Fielder made an official announcement of what he and the Texas Rangers had known since a doctor’s diagnosis last month: a chronic neck injury that has required two spinal fusion surgeries would force the six-time All-Star to retire from baseball at the age of 32. His teammates flanked the dais.
Fielder, within a neck brace, was put on the 60-day disabled list on July 20. Days later, team doctor Drew Dossett confirmed the diagnosis, citing California surgeon Robert Watkins’ recommendation that the Texas designated hitter have surgery and not play again.
We’re all very emotional about it. Texas manager Jeff Banister stated, “I think the whole baseball community as you watch Prince talk about his emotions and the things that were important to him.” “His teammates and family are what matter, not the stats. You understand how much he means to us. He is a unique individual. I fell in love with the competitor, the guy, and the individual.”
In addition, Fielder expressed gratitude to his family and teammates from Milwaukee and Detroit, two of his three professional stops.
to Scott Boras, the agent who, in 2012, negotiated a record-breaking $214 million deal for his client with the Tigers, joining Fielder on the dais.
On November 20, 2013, Fielder was dealt to Texas in exchange for Ian Kinsler in a trade that never materialized for the Rangers. In order to help cover the first baseman-turned-designated hitter’s guaranteed $24 million salary through 2020, the Tigers also contributed $4 million annually.
After undergoing his first spinal fusion surgery in 2014, Fielder only participated in 42 games in his debut season in Texas. Though his power was clearly declining, he made a comeback in 2015, hitting.305 with 23 home runs and 98 RBIs during an All-Star season that saw the Rangers win the AL.
