Rangers’ Fielder sent home for sleep study

Texas Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder. (LM Otero/AP)

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Rangers slugger Prince Fielder returned to Texas on Wednesday to take part in a sleep study after having trouble getting rest during spring training.

The study is supposed to last 48 hours. Fielder is expected back in camp by the weekend.

The star first baseman and designated hitter had been having problems sleeping since arriving at camp in Arizona.

"I think Prince had gone about his job where I had not noticed a whole lot, but obviously those type of things need to be communicated, which he did. We’ll get him checked out and get him right," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.

Banister said he never had those types of sleeping issues while playing, "so I’m sure that’s a little bit concerning."

Fielder has played four games this spring. He had one hit in nine at-bats with two strikeouts.

Texas assistant general manager Thad Levine said Fielder has been "feeling symptomatic for a while."

Levine said the Rangers felt that since it’s so early in the spring, they decided to go ahead and get Fielder evaluated to "see if we can get him some help."

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