Rangers' Prince Fielder expected to have season-ending neck surgery
Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said last week that DH/first baseman Prince Fielder might need season-ending neck surgery, and on Monday Daniels confirmed to reporters that would be the case.
Fielder has a C4/C5 herniation in his neck, which is just above the area that required season-ending surgery in 2014. Fielder had told the team he was feeling weakness and discomfort in his neck and left arm, which are similar symptoms to the ones he experienced two seasons ago.
The 32-year-old is a six-time All-Star but struggled mightily in 2014, his first season with the Rangers, before he was shut down. After hitting at least 25 home runs for eight straight seasons, he hit just three in 42 games and batted a career-low .247.
He regained All-Star form in 2015 by hitting .305 with 23 home runs and 98 RBI but had been backsliding this year with a .212 average and eight home runs in 89 games.
Despite Fielder’s struggles, the Rangers entered Monday in first place in the American League West, 2.5 games ahead of the Houston Astros. Fielder had been hitting .170 in July and played his last game July 18.
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