Fielder: 'I can't play Major League Baseball anymore'

Prince Fielder, the Rangers' veteran slugger who's undergone two major neck surgeries in three years, officially announced his playing career is over during an emotional press conference Wednesday in Texas.

"The doctors told me that with two spinal fusions, I can't play anymore," Fielder told reporters. "I just want to thank my teammates and coaches. I'm really going to miss being around them. It was a lot of fun. I've been in a big league clubhouse since I was little. Not playing is tough. I'm happy I got to enjoy my career."

News of Fielder's impending retirement first broke Tuesday, when sources told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal that his career appeared to be over after doctors deemed him medically disabled and unfit to play. Owed another $24 million annually through 2020, Fielder struggled terribly through the first three months of the 2016 campaign, and, less than two weeks ago, underwent a season-ending cervical fusion to repair a herniated disk in his neck.

It was the 32-year-old's second cervical fusion in 27 months, this time effectively ending his career.

"To not be able to play is going to be tough," said Fielder, who had trouble containing his emotions alongside his two teary-eyed sons, Jadyn and Haven.

Though he rebounded from his first neck surgery with tremendous success, earning the American League Comeback Player of the Year award in 2015 after hitting .305/.378/.463 with 23 homers, the six-time All-Star floundered this season for the Rangers, managing a career-worst .626 OPS in 89 games before undergoing surgery.

6-YEAR PEAK

Prior to his neck injuries, Fielder was among the most durable players in the majors, appearing in all 162 games in four of five seasons from 2009-13 while playing at least 157 games in eight straight years.

During that remarkable stretch, Fielder emerged as one of the most feared hitters in the game. The son of former slugger Cecil Fielder, Prince was widely touted as the next great power hitter after launching towering drives as a teenager at Tiger Stadium. In 2007, he became the youngest player ever at 23 years old to hit 50 home runs.

A six-time All-Star, Fielder hit 319 homers - incredibly, the same total as his father but in 141 fewer games - for three teams over 12 seasons. His most productive seasons were in Milwaukee, where the burly 5-foot-11 first baseman averaged 38 homers per season and posted a .929 OPS during seven years.

Fielder left Milwaukee for Detroit as a free agent in 2012, signing a massive nine-year, $214-million deal with his father's former club. He hit 55 homers and had a .878 OPS during two seasons as a Tiger before getting traded to Texas for Ian Kinsler after the 2013 season.

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)