All about Charlie, Brandon and Maximus

Freddie Freeman is the proud father of three boys: Fredrick Charles II, Brandon John and Maximus Turner.

A big family is something his wife, Chelsea Freeman, says the Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman has always wanted — and now he has one to cheer him on during the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees.

“For as long as I've known him, he's said that since he was a kid, he always knew he wanted to be a father,” she told ESPN in 2021. “As important as it is for him to be a baseball player, so is it for me. “I think it's even more important to be a father.

The couple tied the knot in 2014 and welcomed their first child, Frederick Charles II (who goes by Charlie), in 2016. After struggling to conceive again, Chelsea and Freddie decided to expand their family through surrogacy. Days before the embryo transfer, Chelsea found out she was pregnant, and he told ESPN they were happily surprised to go “from one to three.”

They welcomed son Brandon John in 2020 and son Maximus Turner two months later in 2021. Chelsea and Freddie lovingly refer to their youngest sons as “twins with a twist.”

So who are Freddie Freeman's children? Here's everything you need to know about Charlie, Brandon and Maximus.

Frederick Charles Freeman II, 8th

Frederick Charles Freeman II was born on September 15, 2016, three days after his father's birthday. Although he also shares a name with Freddie, the eldest Freeman is named Charlie.

Freddie, who was playing for the Atlanta Braves at the time, learned that Chelsea was in labor during a game against the Marlins. He told MLB that he sprinted from the home bench as quickly as he could.

“At the beginning of the pregnancy I was excited, then I got nervous, then I got excited again,” he said. “But when I got that call, a lot of emotions kind of came up.”

Chelsea announced Charlie's birth on Instagram with a photo of her holding her newborn while Freddie smiled for the camera in a hospital gown and hairnet. In the caption, she wrote that her labor lasted over 24 hours and ended in an emergency C-section “after exhausting all other options.”

“Not what I wanted, but he is healthy and perfect!!” wrote the new mom. “So in love with this guy.”

Charlie has inherited his father's love of baseball and attends many of Freddie's games with his mother. Freddie often shares photos of the two playing catch on his Instagram, and during a home game in LA in March 2024, the then 7-year-old threw the first pitch. He also loves golf and listening to Bad Bunny – so much so that his parents surprised him with tickets to his very first concert in March 2024.

Brandon John Freeman, 3rd

Brandon John Freeman was born on December 20, 2020, after Freddie and Chelsea struggled to conceive for a few years. She told ESPN in 2021 about her experience.

“It was a lot of doctor appointments, a lot of procedures, a lot of tests,” Chelsea said. “A lot of it was on my own because it was during baseball season. It's all worth it in the end, but going through that… definitely one of the most mentally difficult things you can go through.”

In the spring of 2020, the couple decided to work with a surrogate. Nine days before the embryo transfer, Chelsea found out she was pregnant and had Charlie draw a picture of her with a baby in her stomach to give to Freddie. When their doctors asked if they wanted to proceed with the embryo transfer, they didn't hesitate to say yes.

Brandon, who is named after Chelsea's grandfather, was born first and his brother Maximus was born two months later. The couple has kept secret which child was born through a surrogate mother.

“Every pregnancy and fertility journey is a little different for everyone, and we also wanted to respect our surrogate's privacy,” Freddie told ESPN. “We tried for a few years but it didn’t happen. We spoke to doctors and they suggested surrogacy. We jumped into it because we wanted to be blessed with more.”

Like his brother, Brandon attends many of Freddie's games with his mother and siblings and even made a red carpet appearance at the 2024 All-Star Red Carpet Show. In 2024, Chelsea belatedly wished him a happy birthday on Instagram.

“Brandon, you are the sweetest soul,” she wrote. “You have so much joy in yourself. You give the best bear hugs. You LOVE everyone. You’re the best surprise we’ve ever gotten.”

Maximus Turner Freeman, 3rd

Maximus Turner Freeman was born on February 14, 2021. His middle name is a tribute to the former Atlanta Braves field where Freddie played for most of his career. Chelsea told ESPN that Maximus – who she described on Instagram as sassy, ​​meticulous and determined – fulfilled her dream of having three children when she turned 30.

“As my 29th birthday approached and I still wasn't pregnant, I never thought this would be possible,” she said. “I think our story is definitely one where God always has a bigger plan.”

On July 24, 2024, Maximus was admitted to the emergency room after experiencing severe pain that made him unable to “sit, stand, or walk.” Chelsea shared on her Instagram Stories that the toddler had developed temporary synovitis due to a viral infection. The condition is also known as irritable hip and is due to inflammation of the hip joint lining.

The following day, he suffered full-body paralysis and was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that occurs when the immune system attacks the nerves. According to the Mayo Clinic, the cause is unknown.

Chelsea shared on Instagram that Maximus spent eight days in the hospital before he was able to return home. To show their support, the LA Dodgers wore matching T-shirts that read “#MaxStrong” during a home game against the Philadelphia Phillies in August 2024. On October 10, 2024, the mother of three shared an update on her son's recovery.

“Max's neurologist is VERY, VERY happy with his progress,” she wrote in a caption alongside a photo of her and Max at the doctor's office. “Today Dr. Seeing Crawford Max run for the first time. We're still waiting for his reflexes to come back, but that usually takes the longest. A few weeks ago we talked about getting Max fitted with leg braces. But he’s doing so well that we might be able to overtake them.”

She continued: “With the help of a lot of PT, Max is getting closer and closer to his normal, wild self. Thank you again to everyone for your prayers and good wishes for our family.”