SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Slugger Prince Fielder returned to the Rangers' spring training on Friday and was inserted into the lineup as Texas' designated hitter against Milwaukee after being tested earlier this week for a sleep disorder.
Fielder, who missed three games, went to the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Wednesday for tests, which determined he had sleep apnea, a potentially life-threatening ailment in which breathing stops and starts during sleep. Fielder had complained about having trouble getting rest.
He said the exams detected that he stopped breathing 39 times per hour, while 30 is considered dangerous. Fielder will now use a breathing mask during sleep.