When Freddie Freeman shines in the bright lights of Major League stardom, Chelsea knows some of the family’s most meaningful memories are made off the field. She’s been a rock, particularly through their recent challenges. The Freemans faced terrifying uncertainty last year when their young son Max fell ill with a life-threatening disease.

And now, watching Max just enjoy baseball brings waves of emotion — relief, pride, and profound gratitude.

Chelsea recently posted a video of the 4-year-old on Instagram. Max was seen joyfully practicing baseball warm-ups, sliding playfully next to his brothers Charlie and Brandon. And the mother wrote a cute caption: “This warm up is cracking me up. Max was soooo into baseball before GBS. So happy to see him getting back to it ❤️❤️❤️”. 

And this laughter is a testament to a hard-fought and hard-won journey.

That simple joy felt worlds away last summer. Max came up with a limp only at age 3 during the 2024 All-Star festivities in Texas. Doctors believed it was something minor, but Chelsea let her intuition decide. As Max quickly began to deteriorate, unable even to stand or eat, a visit to an urgent-care center turned into what Chelsea called the “scariest hours of my life.” The final diagnosis was Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder that causes terrifying full-body paralysis (and, for Max, a ventilator to help him breathe).

Max spent eight intense days in the pediatric ICU before he was finally sent home to begin a long recovery. “Max had to relearn everything, starting from tummy time,” Chelsea shared, describing “grueling days of physical therapy almost daily.”

But the kid’s perseverance was evident when he took his first steps in mid-September. Fortunately, as of his latest neurologist appointment in March 2025, Max is now 80% recovered. And he has even regained some reflexes in his knees and feet for the first time since diagnosis.

Freddie’s fear: Max’s battle and a father’s resolve

Watching his young son fight deeply shook Freddie Freeman. The Dodgers approved the first baseman’s leave while they were traveling to Houston for a weekend series against the Astros. Freeman returned to California to be with Max during the crisis.

Seeing his child “on a ventilator fighting … it was hard,” Freddie shared later, his voice all emotional.

The situation weighed so heavily, Chelsea admitted she feared, “If Max didn’t get better, I don’t know if Freddie would have gone back to playing.” His priorities seem absolutely clear: Family first, always.

The baseball community embraced the Freemans during this unimaginably difficult time. Dodgers players wore blue #MaxStrong shirts in solidarity during warmups, which Freddie said brought tears to his eyes: “That’s the first time I cried today … It means a lot.” Even support from across the league flooded in — players like Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper regularly texting and “really checking in” on the family, showing compassion and kindness should be at the core of humanity.

When Freddie finally returned to the lineup after Max was released, the Dodgers’ fans gave him a standing ovation. And despite the extreme emotional strain and later fighting serious physical damage himself in the playoffs (a sprained ankle and broken rib cartilage), he played at an elite level. His resilience came to an even higher peak during a historic World Series. He homered in the first four games and hit a walk-off grand slam, earning World Series MVP honors.

Looking back now, the journey from those terrifying days in the ICU to seeing Max joyfully with a bat – remarkable! ”I am really trying to cherish all the special moments,” Chelsea mentioned in a recent interview. A feeling magnified by their recent ordeal. Watching Max get back into baseball is more than just the sport. It feels like an achievement – both for the family and the MLB community.