Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from the team’s lineup Friday so he could travel to Los Angeles to be with his family, manager Dave Roberts announced.
According to a Thursday Instagram post from Freeman’s wife, Chelsea, the couple’s 3-year-old son, Maximus, has been in the hospital this week.
On Tuesday night, Freeman was seen running out of the locker room immediately after the game. Chelsea Freeman’s post on Thursday said the pair spent Wednesday night in an emergency room before being released around 3:30 a.m.
Freeman had started every game this season and traveled with the club to Houston for this weekend’s series, going through his normal pregame workout routine about four hours before the first pitch.
However, when Roberts spoke to the media a couple of hours later, he said “something prompted” Freeman to “feel like he needs to go home.”
“When your son is going through a tough time, it’s hard to be there, and rightfully so,” Roberts added. “He’s certainly had a lot of pain in his heart the last few days and I just pray that Max makes a good and full recovery.”
Roberts wasn’t sure how long Freeman would be out, but he didn’t expect him to return this weekend.
Roberts also did not know if the club would replace Freeman on the active roster, although MLB has a Family Medical Emergency List for such situations.
“Honestly, I think the priority was to get him home and then the front office will take care of the administrative aspects and all that,” Roberts said.
In Freeman’s absence Friday, the Dodgers started Cavan Biggio at first base, and Roberts said Kiké Hernández could get time at first.