HOUSTON – Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman will be away from the organization as he returns to be home with his family after his 3-year-old son, Maximus, was hospitalized this week.
Freeman, who flew with the Dodgers to Houston on Thursday afternoon and went through his normal pregame routine on Friday, was scratched from the lineup and was headed back to Los Angeles after conferring with the organization. The club does not have a timetable for his return, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“Emotionally it’s been certainly hard for him,” Roberts said. “He needs to be with his family.”
Dave Roberts said he doesn’t expect Freddie Freeman to be back this series. No decision made yet on if there will be a roster move to put him on the family emergency list.
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Freeman’s wife, Chelsea, posted an Instagram story explaining that the couple’s youngest son had to go to the emergency room — prompting Freeman to rush out of the clubhouse to meet them after Tuesday night’s game.
The post said doctors informed the family that Maximus had contracted transient synovitis — temporary hip inflammation, according to the National Institute of Health — a byproduct of a viral infection their son had while they were in Arlington, Texas last week for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
“The children’s hospital staff (was) amazing,” Chelsea wrote after Maximus was discharged at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday. “There is nothing worse than seeing your child in pain. My heart breaks for all the families that have it worse. Thank you so much for your prayers.”
Freeman remained in the Dodgers’ lineup until Friday, returning home to be with family.
“He’s trying to be here for the team and also be there for his family,” Roberts said. “But when your child is going through things it’s just hard to be present and rightfully so. He certainly had a heavy heart the last few days and I just pray that Max going to recover well and have a full recovery.”
The Dodgers did not make a roster move in Freeman’s stead and played down a man on Friday against the Houston Astros. Major League Baseball does have a family medical emergency list, which has a minimum stint of three days, for such cases if necessary.
(Photo of Freddie Freeman: Kiyoshi Mio / USA Today)
Daniel Miller is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. His coverage spans from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis for sports enthusiasts.
