Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman steps down due to family circumstances

HOUSTON – Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman will be away from the organization as he returns home to his family after his 3-year-old son, Maximus, was hospitalized this week.

Freeman, who flew to Houston with the Dodgers on Thursday afternoon and went through his normal pregame routine on Friday, was removed from the lineup and returned to Los Angeles after consultation with the organization. The club has no timetable for his return, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

“Emotionally it’s definitely been tough on him,” Roberts said. “He needs to be with his family.”

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 run out of the clubhouse after Tuesday night’s game to pick them up.

The statement said doctors had informed the family that Maximus had developed transient synovitis — a temporary hip inflammation, according to the National Institute of Health — a byproduct of a viral infection their son contracted while they were in Arlington, Texas, for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game last week.

“The staff at Children’s Hospital (was) amazing,” Chelsea wrote after Maximus was discharged at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. “There is nothing worse than seeing your child in pain. My heart breaks for all the families who have it worse. Thank you so much for your prayers.”

Freeman remained in the Dodgers’ lineup until Friday, then went home to be with his family.

“He’s trying to be there for the team and his family as well,” Roberts said. “But when your kid is going through things, it’s just hard to be there and rightfully so. He’s definitely had a heavy heart the last couple of days and I’m just praying that Max has a good recovery and a full recovery.”

The Dodgers did not make a roster move for Freeman, going one man down on Friday against the Houston Astros. Major League Baseball does have a family medical emergency list, with a minimum three-day waiting period, for such cases if needed.

(Photo by Freddie Freeman: Kiyoshi Mio / USA Today)