MLB notes: Texas’ Prince Fielder likely out for season
Prince Fielder is expected to have neck surgery next week and miss the rest of the season.
Fielder has been out with a herniated disk in his neck, and surgery was recommended after a follow-up exam and another scan Thursday with Dr. Drew Dossett.
General manager Jon Daniels said the team would get second opinion about surgery, but we’re “expecting that to be confirmed.”
Daniels said Dossett was tentatively scheduled to do a cervical fusion Tuesday. That operation has a typical recovery time of three to four months, and the GM said he anticipated Fielder being able to be fully recovered before spring training next year.
The Rangers already have a majors-high 13 players on the disabled list. Fielder will become the 14th when that move is made Friday.
Fielder had played in 547 consecutive games, then the longest active streak in the majors, before receiving a nerve root block injection Saturday to treat his neck. He had played all 162 games four of the past five seasons, and missed only one game in 2010.
Moustakas demoted
The Royals sent third baseman Mike Moustakas to Triple-A Omaha in their latest attempt to break one of their franchise cornerstones out of his prolonged slump.
Moustakas had slowly lost playing time to Danny Valencia. The former No. 2 overall pick heads to Omaha toting a .152 average with four homers and 17 RBIs in 40 games.
Clearing the bases
Miguel Olivo has been released by the Dodgers after his fight in the dugout with Triple-A teammate Alex Guerrero. … The Orioles have placed reliever Tommy Hunter on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. … Cleveland has placed right-hander Zach McAllister on the 15-day DL with a lower back strain. … The Pirates have designated struggling pitcher Wandy Rodriguez for assignment and activated catcher Russell Martin from the DL. … The Giants have placed right-hander Santiago Casilla on the 15-day DL with a right hamstring strain and recalled George Kontos from Triple-A Fresno. … Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was out of the lineup against San Francisco with a swollen left index finger. … After hitting four straight homers Wednesday, Arizona farmhand Jon Griffin ran his home run streak to five at-bats Thursday, connecting to lead off the second inning in the Mobile BayBears’ 6-5 loss to the Tennessee Smokies.