Freddie Freeman’s 2024 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The toughest moment he faced this year was not on the diamond as a Los Angeles Dodgers player but as a dad. His son Max was rushed to the hospital after a full body paralysis, where he was later diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. It’s a rare condition and ever rarer for children–but for young Max, this was the reality. Maximus was in the intensive care unit, and thankfully because of getting timely care, he went back home after a few days.
The whole time, Freeman, Chelsea, and their sons, Brandon and Charlie, have been incredibly strong and resilient. And while Freeman did take a break from the playing, it was a rather short one. And through the ups and downs, he has always kept his head in the game. Saturday’s match against his former team, Atlanta Braves, couldn’t have ended on a better note. The Dodgers won 9-2 against the Braves. But the day was double-sweet for Freeman not just because of the win but because it was also his firstborn’s birthday.
Freddie Freeman and family celebrate Charlie’s big 8!
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It’s the little moments that make life worth living. And the Freeman family knows this better than most after having a turbulent year. They are now finding pockets of joy every day and this week was even more special because of Charlie Freeman’s birthday. Their eldest son turned eight, and this gave the family the perfect time to celebrate. Plus, they did it in classic Dodgers fashion.
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Charlie had a custom cake for him which said ‘Game On’ written on it. Plus the family posed together in Dodgers gear—the sweetest gesture ever! Freddie Freeman joined in the fun and he even posted on Instagram a sweet picture with Charlie with the caption “Happy Birthday Charlie!!! #8.” Chelsea too wasn’t behind and posted writing, “Happy 8th Birthday to my firstborn 🥺.”
This birthday felt so much more special because they got to celebrate the day with Max, who, being just 3, has gone through so much. Now he is in remission and recovering well thanks to the timely treatments he has been receiving. Chelsea Freeman mentioned last month how much their life has been all about doctor’s visits and Max’s care, but she is grateful for the progress. Charlie’s birthday was a much-needed break for the fam to relax, smile, and find some joy in all the craziness. Plus, the Dodgers won the game against the Braves- double hurray!
A smashing day for the Dodgers against the Braves
The Los Angeles Dodgers were smashing against the Braves with a score of 9-2 at the end of the night. Mookie Betts was on fire, hitting a tie-breaking RBI single during a seven-run ninth inning. He sure does know when to bring in that sprinkle of magic! The Dodger’s big inning had back-to-back home runs from Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman, and Max Muncy.
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Freddie Freeman played phenomenally and he followed Bett’s go-ahead hit with a two-run single, adding to the Dodger’s stellar finish. Meanwhile Shohei Ohtani, like the man he is, had a solid game with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Although, he did miss scoring a home run or stealing a base—which we know is one of his goals–doing the 50-50! But there is always a next time.
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With only 13 games to play, the Dodgers now are in a powerful position and hold a two-game lead over the Brewers for the No.2 seed in the NL and also are on a four-game lead over the Padres in the N.L. West. Meanwhile, this loss puts the Atlanta Braves in a tie with the New York Mets for the precious third wild card spot in the National League.
But there is still some good news for the Braves; they have another chance of redeeming themselves as Max Fried is ready to take the mound for the series finale against the Dodgers. The first pitch is set for 7:20 p.m. on Monday. Who do you think will end up winning the game? Let us know in the comments.