'Freddie Freeman departs from Dodgers to care for sick child'
The Los Angeles Dodgers have granted first baseman Freddie Freeman leave to be with his ailing 3-year-old son on Friday.
Freeman was present with the team as they traveled to Houston for a weekend series against the Astros, but he left before Friday's game to return to California.
According to Freeman's wife Chelsea, their son Maximus is suffering from transient synovitis, a temporary condition that causes hip inflammation and is commonly found in young boys.
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Maximus first developed a viral infection while the family was in Arlington, Texas for the All-Star Game last week.
Although Maximus was discharged from a California hospital on Wednesday, Chelsea wrote on Instagram that if he doesn't show improvement in 48 hours, he will need to return to the hospital.
The illness has left Maximus unable to sit, stand, or walk for three days and he has had difficulty eating.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented on Freeman's departure, saying, "I just know that something prompted him to feel like he needed to go home... He's trying to be here for the team and his family, but it's hard to be fully present when your child is going through something like this."
Roberts also mentioned that the team has not yet decided if Freeman will be placed on the family leave list, which would require him to miss a minimum of three games.
An eight-time All-Star, Freeman has a batting average of .288 with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs in 104 games this season.
In Freeman's absence, Cavan Biggio started at first base for the Dodgers on Friday night, but the team ultimately lost 5-0 to the Astros.
