Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman leaves team to be with son during illness

HOUSTON — Freddie Freeman traveled to Houston with the Dodgers on Thursday but he left the team on Friday, returning to California to be with his son, Maximus, who has been hospitalized with an illness.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he does not know how long Freeman will be away from the team.

“This is something that we just learned,” Roberts said as the Dodgers took the field for batting practice Friday afternoon. “He needs to be home and he’s gonna take care of that and then we’ll figure that out.”

Freeman’s wife, Chelsea, posted on Instagram on Wednesday that she had rushed their 3-year-old son Maximus to the emergency room because he was unable to sit, stand or walk for three days and was not eating.

According to Chelsea Freeman, Maximus was diagnosed with transient synovitis “from the viral infection he had at All-Star Week.” Tests showed “no infection or active virus” and “everything is consistent with transient synovitis.”

Transient synovitis is a temporary inflammation of the hip joint’s lining and is more likely to affect boys between the ages of 3 and 10, causing hip pain and limping.

Chelsea Freeman posted that Maximus had been discharged from the hospital early Wednesday morning but “if he doesn’t improve in 48 hours he needs to go back to the hospital.”

Freddie Freeman rushed out of the Dodgers’ clubhouse following Tuesday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants, running down the hallway toward the exit. Chelsea posted photos from the hospital, showing Freddie sitting by Maximus’ bedside. Freddie returned to play Wednesday and Thursday and was on the field early Friday afternoon at Minute Maid Park, going through his normal pre-game routine with coach Dino Ebel and then heading into the visitors’ clubhouse.

An hour later, however, Roberts announced a new lineup and said Freeman was leaving the team.

“I just know that something spurred it where he feels like he’s gotta go home,” Roberts said of the sudden change Friday afternoon.

“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.”

Cavan Biggio made the start at first base in Freeman’s place. It is the first game this season the Dodgers have started without Freeman in the lineup. He missed just one game last year and three in 2022.

The Dodgers could place Freeman on the family leave list, which would make ineligible for at least three games. Roberts said that decision is still being discussed by the front office.

“Honestly, I think the priority was to get him home and then the front office will figure out the administrative part, all of that,” he said.

BUEHLER REHAB

Right-hander Walker Buehler was scheduled to make the first start of his second rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday night.

Buehler started the season by making six rehab starts, five with OKC and one with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, as he came back from flexor tendon repair and a second Tommy John surgery. After rejoining the Dodgers, he posted a 5.84 ERA in eight starts before going back on the injured list with a hip issue.

MINOR MOVE

The Dodgers signed veteran right-hander Jordan Lyles to a minor-league deal.

The 33-year-old Lyles has pitched for eight teams in 14 major-league seasons, primarily as a starter – including last year with the Kansas City Royals when he led the majors in losses while going 6-17 with a 6.28 ERA. He pitched just five innings for the Royals this season, all out of the bullpen in April. He was placed on the restricted list due to a family matter and was only recently reinstated and then released by the Royals.

SUNDAY START

Rookie right-hander River Ryan will make his second major-league start on Sunday in Houston.

Ryan was promoted from Triple-A and made his major-league debut against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night. He allowed one unearned run on four hits and three walks in 5⅓ innings. It was the first time in his professional career that he had pitched into a sixth inning.

UP NEXT

Dodgers (LHP Justin Wrobleski, 0-1, 4.40 ERA) at Astros (RHP Ronel Blanco, 9-5, 2.75 ERA), Saturday, 4:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, MLB Network, 570 AM