The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Braves’ Freeman prayed ‘Please don’t take me’
ATLANTA » Freddie Freeman doesn’t know if he has time to be ready for the Atlanta Braves’ opener.
Following a scary journey in his battle with COVID-19, Freeman is grateful to even have a chance.
On July 18, the four-time All-Star revealed he had a high temperature of 104.5 degrees early in his battle with the disease and prayed for his life.
“I said a little prayer that night,” Freeman said in a video conference call. “I’ve never been that hot before. My body was really, really hot . ... I said ‘Please don’t take me’ because I wasn’t ready.”
Freeman said the fever was down to 101 the following morning and broke two days later. He said July 18 was his ninth consecutive day without symptoms, which also included body aches, chills and a temporary loss of his senses of taste and smell. He said two other members of his household, his wife and aunt, are recovering after positive tests.
“I feel great,” he said. “I only lost one pound . ... I didn’t lose any strength.”
Freeman reported to Truist Park for a workout on July 17 about an hour after receiving his second negative test for the coronavirus, which earned him medical clearance to play.
The Braves plan to give Freeman as many at-bats as possible before the season.
He had a run-scoring triple over the head of right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in a July 18 intrasquad game and also caught a foul popup over his shoulder.
Freeman’s appreciation of being back with the team was obvious. The Braves posted video on the team’s Twitter account of Freeman, carrying his bat and glove, saying “This is wonderful” as he walked out of the dugout and looked out at the field on July 17.
“I feel like I’m a kid in a candy store again,” he said Saturday. “You forget sometimes how much you love this game. I did truly miss it. I was so excited when I got to the yard.”