Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman Breaks Silence on Son’s Health Scare

An emotional Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman returned to the team Monday, and addressed the media prior to the team’s 7 p.m. game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Freeman rejoined the Dodgers one day after his wife, Chelsea, revealed via Instagram that their 3-year-old son, Maximus, was discharged from the pediatric ICU.

Maximus was hospitalized and diagnosed with a rare case of Guillain-Barré syndrome after going into full body paralysis. The scary incident prompted Freddie Freeman to leave the team amid a road trip to Houston, Texas. He was placed on the family emergency list July 26 and was away from the team for 10 days.

“No one should have to go through with this, especially a 3-year-old,” Freeman told reporters, including ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. “I don’t know how many times Chelsea and I said we wish we could switch.”

Monday was the first time Freddie Freeman has publicly addressed his son’s health scare since leaving the team. He said Maximus started physical therapy and is doing well in his recovery.

Before beating the Oakland A’s in back-to-back games over the weekend, the Dodgers had been averaging 3.8 runs per game without Freeman — more than a full run lower than their average runs per game (4.9) for the 2024 season. Cavan Biggio has been the team’s primary first baseman in Freeman’s absence.

Now, the Dodgers are trending in the right direction. They beat Oakland 10-0 on Saturday, the most runs they’ve scored in a game since June 29. They won again Sunday, 3-2, giving them back-to-back wins for the first time since July 22-23.

Freeman figures to be back in the lineup Monday himself.

The momentum is coming at a good time: The NL-leading Philadelphia Phillies are visiting Dodger Stadium for three games beginning Monday. The No. 1 seed in the league’s playoff race is at stake.

Now, it sounds like Freeman’s son is trending in the right direction, too.

Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

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