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Prince Fielder Will Enter Medically-Induced Early ‘Retirement’

Of all the adversity a professional athlete will face throughout their career, it is often times mother nature, time itself, and injury that play the cruelest antagonist. Prince Fielder joins a substantial list of names who saw their careers come to early ends, proving that most often it’s a player’s body that gives out long before their will or love of the game.

In a press conference Wednesday, Fielder addressed the rumors os his being medically unclearable to continue to play the sport he grew up with; the sport that defined nearly his entire life.

Following a second surgery on herniated disks in his neck in as many years, Fielder’s career will come to an unwelcome conclusion. Although technically not retiring -he’ll still get paid the nearly $100 million he’s owed through 2020- he will not take the diamond again.

Son of Cecil Fielder, Prince has spent the majority of his life in and around a baseball clubhouse. So to lose that connection, that immediate family, as he coined, is undoubtedly the hardest part.

“I’ve got four at the house, and 25 here,” extolled Fielder behind near tears when asked about how important it was to have his sons and teammates at his conference.

Fielder was originally the 7th overall pick of the 2002 draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. He spent the first seven years of his career a Brewer where his large frame and big bat fell into a special place in baseball’s heart for a hitter of that mold at that time.

Although he made his name in Milwaukee (where he hit 230 HRs, 656 RBIs, .282/.390/.540), many will remember his shorter than it feels two years in Detroit where he became bash brothers of Miguel Cabrera. While in Detroit, Fielder played a pivotal offensive role in getting the Tigers to their first World Series since 2006. His Tigers squad also made the ALCS the following year.

Prince will end his career batting .283/.382/.506 with 319 HRs and 1028 RBIs. He was a six-time All-Star, one-time All-Star MVP, winner of a Hank Aaron award, and the 2015 MLB Comeback Player of the Year. His Rangers squad remain favorites to win the AL West and make a big push throughout the playoffs, even without his presence.

Although an easy target to the teasing of the athleticism of baseball players, Fielder truly was a special specimen. A gifted aficionado with the bat, whose last three years were a teaser of his former self. In his impassioned press conference, you can see just how much his team and sport impacts his life. A group of clowns you spent probably more time with than an actually family.

He’ll be under contract and it’d be nice to see the Rangers put Fielder into a special advisor role similar to what we’ve seen the Yankees intend to do with the soon-to-be-cut Alex Rodriguez. He might not have a ton of diet tips to hand out, but a bat like that can’t be swept under the rug.

Tyler Arnold

I am the founder, co-owner, and editor-in-chief of The Runner Sports. I've been an avid sports fan since I was a young boy and have turned that love into a profession. I will watch, comment, and break down anything I can get my hands on, from football to white water rafting in the Olympics. Your visit means a lot to me, so thank you for your readership.

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