Freddie Freeman cemented his name in Dodgers lore after hitting a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series. While the 2024 season ended on a high note, there was a time the Dodgers superstar considered retirement.
Soon after the All-Star break, Freeman’s three-year-old son Maximus was in and out of the hospital. On Aug. 1, Freddie and Chelsea Freeman announced their son had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The Dodgers first baseman missed a stretch of games because of his son’s health scare, and Freeman even considered walking away from baseball amidst the family emergency.
“There was a point, like, if Max didn’t get better, I don’t know if Freddie would have gone back to playing,” Chelsea Freeman says. “So Max getting better in itself is a miracle and then for Freddie to be able to finish the way that he did … I feel like we needed that.”
The journey to becoming World Series MVP was no easy feat. Beyond the game, Freeman had endured one of the scariest moments for a parent.
However, Chelsea Freeman recently gave a positive update on Maximus, who just celebrated his fourth birthday.
“I didn’t even know if I’d be able to sign him up for Little League a few months ago,” Chelsea said, via The New York Post’s Jaclyn Hendricks. “He’s still in physical therapy, he’s going to be doing that probably through July, so it’s on track with the one-year recovery from Guillain-Barré, but he’s doing absolutely fantastic.”
Freeman’s walk-off grand slam was an unforgettable moment for fans, but it was also a symbol of strength for his family.
Manager Dave Roberts said it best: “Greatest baseball moment I’ve ever witnessed.”
More news:Dodgers Overcame ‘2 Gut Punches’ to Win Tokyo Series, Says All-Star
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Have you joined our Discord Channel yet? Be a part of the ultimate Dodgers Nation community and get VIP Nation Access! Don’t miss out on real-time Dodgers talk, call-in access to Dodgers Dougout, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive interviews, giveaways, and more!
