Rangers will miss Prince Fielder's unselfish perspective
— -- ARLINGTON, Texas -- Prince Fielder arrived in Texas with a massive contract, a home run title and a reputation for playing every day.
He didn't come with much of an ego, though it would've been completely understandable considering he was the son of big leaguer Cecil Fielder and played in six All-Star Games, winning the Home Run Derby at one of them.
And just like that, Fielder's career is apparently over. After having neck fusion surgery for the second time in three seasons he's reportedly expected to announce Wednesday that he is physically unable to play, thus ending his career. The medical designation means he will collect on the remaining $96 million, he's owed on the nine-year, $214 million contract he signed with the Detroit Tigers in 2012.
In three seasons with the Texas Rangers, Fielder hit 34 homers with 158 RBIs in just 289 games. He hit .269 with an OPS of .760, well below his career averages.
Winning mattered more to Fielder than his stats. He cared more about being a good teammate than his Wins Above Replacement. When manager Jeff Banister asked him to be a designated hitter, allowing Mitch Moreland to play first base, Fielder quickly acquiesced. When asked about the move, Fielder said, "Mitch is a better first baseman than me. The team is better if he's at first."
After playing just 42 games his first season in Texas because he needed neck fusion surgery, Fielder returned to hit .305 with 23 homers and 98 RBIs in 2015.
