The Dodgers will be without Freddie Freeman for the time being after granting the first baseman leave on Friday to be with his sick 3-year-old son.
Freeman’s son, Maximus, was taken to the emergency room on Wednesday after he came down with what is believed to be transient synovitis, which can cause extreme pain and hip discomfort.
Freeman met his son and wife, Chelsea, at the hospital that night following the Dodgers’ loss to the Giants.
According to an Instagram post by Chelsea, Maximus developed the illness from a viral infection he had during the All-Star Game.
Freeman traveled with the team to Houston for the start of a series against the Astros, but left before Friday’s game, which the Dodgers lost 5-0.
“I just know that something spurred it where he feels like he’s got to go home,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “… He’s trying to be here for the team and also be there for his family. 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 is going to recover well and have a full recovery.”
Maximus was discharged on Wednesday, but Chelsea Freeman wrote on Instagram that “if he doesn’t improve in 48 hours, he needs to go back to the hospital.”
Maximus could not sit, stand or walk for three days and he wouldn’t eat, Chelsea wrote on Instagram.
If Freeman is placed on the family leave list, he would miss at least three games.
“I obviously just don’t see him being here for this series,” Roberts said. “Once we get to the West Coast [for the next series in San Diego], we’ll see if that’s in play after the off day.”