Most people celebrate a World Series victory with champagne showers and long nights of partying, but Freddie Freeman and his family opted for a more wholesome approach.
Three days after Freeman and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the Fall Classic, the first baseman was awoken from a well-earned nap by a FaceTime from his son Charlie asking to adopt a kitten, his wife Chelsea explained via an Instagram post.
Chelsea and their three sons went to an adoption drive, and, after that phone conversation, made sure not to return home empty-handed.
When it came time to name their new family member, they opted for "Champ." While it might be a bit on the nose following the World Series, it's a fitting name considering Freeman's stellar play down the stretch.
The now two-time champion took home World Series MVP honours after knocking in 12 RBIs along with four home runs against New York. He slashed a stellar .300/.364/1.000 in the series and broke a finals record by hitting a homer in six consecutive World Series contests. None more spectacular than his Game 1 walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning.
Hopefully, the new addition and a title can bring a bit of reprieve to an otherwise tumultuous couple of months for the Freeman family.
Three months earlier, Freeman and his wife were in the hospital while their 3-year-old son Maximus was fighting for his life after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Thankfully, Maximus has been recovering since, and he even got to watch his father's Game 1 heroics in person.
Freeman, an eight-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger, has conquered just about every challenge he's faced in the baseball world. Now its time to see how he fairs with pet parenthood.
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