Prince Fielder considering season-ending neck surgery
The first season in Texas has not gone according ot plan for Prince Fielder as the Rangers first baseman has been dealing with a herniated disc in his neck and is “seriously considering” season-ending surgery to repair it, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
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Fielder, 30, was scratched from the lineup earlier this week after he experienced weakness in his arm as a result of the disc pinching a nerve that can only be repaired through surgery. Fielder is deciding whether he can play through the weakness in his arm or to shut it down and repair the damaged disc.
Naturally, having a one-armed Fielder is not going to result in the prodigious power numbers that the five-time All-Star first baseman has produced throughout his career with the Milwaukee Brewers and Detroit Tigers whom they acquired in a trade for Ian Kinsler.
Fielder is hitting .247 in his first season in Arlington with only three home runs. He is coming off a 25 home run season which marked the lowest total since his rookie year when he hit 28.
The Tigers are on the hook for $130 million through the year 2020 so it might make the most sense to correct the problem now and ensure that their six-figure investment is healthy for the long haul.
Texas is 22-24 and eight games back of the American League West leading Oakland Athletics.