Prince Fielder Injury: Texas Slugger Needs Season-Ending Surgery

Prince Fielder will undergo surgery next week to repair a herniated disk in his neck, ending the season for the Texas Rangers slugger.

Fielder saw his symptoms get worse this week, and on Thursday morning met with spine specialist Dr. Drew Dossett. The doctor recommended that Fielder have surgery to correct the problem, which meant a recovery period that stretches beyond the end of the 2014 season.

The injury means Prince Fielder will break his streak of 547 consecutive games played, the longest active streak in the majors.

Prince Fielder’s injury could be devastating for the Texas Rangers, who gave up All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler in a trade to acquire Fielder from the Tigers in November. The Rangers hopes were tied heavily to Fielder injecting power into the lineup.

General manager Jon Daniels said Prince Fielder will get a second opinion before getting surgery, but he expects to confirm what the team already knows.

“I wasn’t surprised, just because after talking to him and seeing him, you know this was something that was bothering him,” Daniels said. “We were hoping the injection could get him through the season. His initial response was positive. But the symptoms came back.”

There was more bad news for the Texas Rangers. Infielder Jurickson Profar also suffered a Grade 2 strain in his muscle, Daniels announced, keeping him out for the next two to four months.

Prince Fielder was hitting.247 with three home runs and 16 RBIs before the injury. Daniels said the lower-than-normal power numbers were a result of the lingering injury.

“When you talk to him and when the medical staff tests his strength, he’s got a real deficiency in his left arm,” Daniels said. “He’s much weaker in his left arm because of this disk herniation. I have no doubt it’s affected his play.”

If the second opinion confirms Fielder’s injury, he will go in for surgery on Tuesday.