LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman singled and got a hug from Phillies star Bryce Harper in his return to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup on Monday night after missing eight games to be with his ailing 3-year-old son, who is out of danger after a serious medical diagnosis.
“I’m back,” he said before the Dodgers’ 5-3 victory, “so that means good things are happening at the Freeman home.”
Freeman received a standing ovation in his first at-bat. The Phillies joined the applause from their dugout. The pitch clock was stopped as he stepped out of the batter’s box, removed his helmet and waved to the crowd, then touched his right hand to his heart.
“It means a lot that the Phillies were respectful of that situation,” Freeman said. “I wasn’t expecting it, but very much appreciated from the Dodgers fans. They made it really hard to hit in that first at-bat, but that’s a good thing.”
The response clearly moved Freeman, who took several deep breaths before stepping in against Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola.
“I was doing OK tipping my hat and then my dad was sitting first row with my stepmom,” he said. “He was, I don’t know if I could call him crying, but he was choked up and teary-eyed and that’s what really got me going.”
Freeman struck out swinging to end the first inning.
“It was one of the most potent strikeouts I’ve ever had in my big league career,” he said.
The crowd chanted “Freddie! Freddie!” before Freeman singled in the third. Harper was waiting for him with a consoling embrace.
“Bryce probably texts at least four times during the nine days, really checking in,” said Freeman, adding that every Phillies player who reached first extended well wishes to him.
“I’m tired and worn out,” he said, fatigue evident in his voice. “It’s just an emotional day.”
After an initial diagnosis proved incorrect, Maximus Freeman was found to have Guillain-Barre syndrome, something Freeman and his wife, Chelsea, had never heard of. The rare neurological disorder occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system and causes nerve damage and muscle weakness.
“Seeing one of your kids on a ventilator fighting, it was hard,” Freeman said, his voice choking. “That’s the heartbreaking thing. No one deserves to go through something like this. I know you parents understand that. You’d switch in a second to take that pain, that suffering away from your kid in a heartbeat. When you feel…