The Rangers clubhouse was a little louder than usual Saturday afternoon.
Prince Fielder was in the building.
The first baseman/DH who announced last month that he'd no longer be able to play baseball made his first return to the team since announcing the end of his playing career. It was a raucous return as teammates streamed over to his locker to welcome him and kid around.
Fielder, 32, had spinal fusion surgery in late July. It was his second such procedure to repair a herniated disc in his neck area. Doctors told him he could not play baseball again. But it doesn't mean he can't be a part of the team.
"It is good to see the guys," Fielder said between robust greetings. "This is what I missed most. I think you get to a certain age in baseball and you can see yourself not playing, but you never want to not have a friend."
Fielder will be in the dugout and in uniform - "but in my coaching top" - for the next several days with the possibility of the Rangers clinching the AL West. If the team doesn't clinch on the current homestand, he will go to Oakland next weekend. He intends to be with the Rangers throughout the postseason.
"I'm doing good, well about as good as I can feel," said Fielder, who had been in a neck brace until eight days ago. "Having the [brace] off makes me feel a little human again. That was claustrophobic. Now, I can at least go out to dinner and it makes me not miss [baseball] so much."
Said manager Jeff Banister: "Prince is as much a part of this team as anybody out there. This is a high-influence, high-character guy with leadership. ... Heartbeat of this club. You saw the emotions from every one of our players at the press conference. Nothing about that would be bad."
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