ATLANTA, GEORGIA – October 09: Freddie Freeman # 5 of the Atlanta Braves reacts against the St. Louis Cardinals during the eighth inning in Game Five of the National League Division Series at SunTrust Park on October 09, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
Braves 1B Freddie Freeman tested positive on Friday.
Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman did everything he was supposed to do. He stayed away from public gatherings, didn’t leave the house, only interacted with a small circle of family members. He is also a perfectly conditioned and perfectly healthy 30 year old athlete. None of this mattered when it came to COVID-19.
Freeman’s wife Chelsea went to social media on Saturday to update the status of her husband, who tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday. Her message was clear and simple: if this could happen to her, to anyone.
“Most of you will know by now … Freddie tested positive for Covid-19 last night. He has had body aches, headaches, chills, and a high fever since Thursday. He is someone who literally never gets sick and this virus hit him like a ton of bricks, “he wrote.
The appearance of the virus suddenly came to Freeman. He tested negative earlier in the week during the Braves’ admission process and was preparing to hit the field with his teammates for the opening of training camp on Friday. It was then that he learned of his positive test. Manager Brian Snitker revealed that he later spoke to Freeman and that his All-Star player does not “feel great.” It will be a while before we can get it back.
Chelsea Freeman says the family has taken every precaution in the past few months. “We have been very strict for the past 4 months,” he wrote. “I have not been to a grocery store, I have not gone out to dinner once, I have not seen our friends and we have only allowed the family to be in our home and we still have it.” Fortunately, she and her son Charlie feel good.
Other brave men have tested positive for COVID-19
The virus has hit the Braves’ camp particularly hard. Pitchers Will Smith and Touki Touissant also tested positive on Friday, although both are asymptomatic. Pete Kozma, part of the Braves satellite camp at Coolray Field, was exhibiting symptoms earlier in the week, but says he felt better the past two days. Snitker revealed on Saturday that first base coach Eric Young, 53, will be out of the season and only communicate with players remotely.
The Braves come from a 97-win season in 2019, the most for the franchise since 2003, and their second straight National League East Division title. Freeman was an integral part of his training; He hit 38 home runs and hit 121 last season, just the third Braves infielder in franchise history to reach those milestones. Losing him even for part of the season would be a huge blow to the club.
But this is not about his baseball player status. Chelsea’s post revealed that this is a real person, a loving husband and father who has been hit by a deadly virus. That’s where every Braves fan should be in focus, hoping that Freeman will make a full recovery and not just because he’s a great baseball player.
