Freeman leaves Dodgers to be with ailing son

First baseman Freddie Freeman was granted leave by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday to be with his ailing 3-year-old son.

Freeman was with the team when it traveled to Houston for the start of a weekend series against the Astros, but he exited ahead of Friday’s game to return to California.

Chelsea Freeman, Freddie’s wife, wrote on Instagram that their son Maximus has transient synovitis, a temporary condition that causes hip inflammation and typically occurs in young boys.

According to Chelsea Freeman, Maximus first had a viral infection last week when the family was in Arlington, Texas, for the All-Star Game.

Maximus was discharged from a California hospital early Wednesday, but Chelsea Freeman wrote that “if he doesn’t improve in 48 hours he needs to go back to the hospital.”

The ailment prevented the boy from sitting, standing or walking for three days, and he wouldn’t eat, according to Chelsea Freeman.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Freddie Freeman leaving the team: “I just know that something spurred it where he feels like he’s got to go home. … He’s trying to be here for the team and also be there for his family. But when your child is going through things, it’s just hard to be present and rightfully so.

“He certainly had a heavy heart the last few days, and I just pray that Max is going to recover well and have a full recovery.”

Roberts said the Dodgers had yet to decide if Freeman would be taken off the roster and placed on the family leave list, which would require him to miss at least three games.

Freeman, an eight-time All-Star, is batting .288 with 16 homers and 67 RBIs in 104 games this year.

Cavan Biggio started at first base in Freeman’s place Friday night and went 0-for-4 as Los Angeles lost 5-0 to Houston.