During a press conference Saturday, the Braves first baseman revealed that he had a temperature that spiked to 104.5 degrees while battling the coronavirus and thought he was in danger of losing his life.
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Freeman said Saturday was his ninth consecutive day without symptoms. He said his wife and his aunt are both recovering after they tested positive for the disease.
Friday night, that was the scariest night for me. I spiked to 104.5 fever. … I said a little prayer that night, because, you know, I’ve never been that hot before. My body was really, really hot. So I said ‘please don’t take me.’ I wasn’t ready. It got a little worrisome that night for me.
“I feel great,” he said. “I only lost one pound. … I didn’t lose any strength.”
Freeman has received two negative tests for the coronavirus and has been cleared to play.
“I feel like I’m a kid in a candy store again,” Freeman said. “You forget sometimes how much you love this game. I did truly miss it. I was so excited when I got to the yard.”
Atlanta’s first home of the 2020 season is against the Rays on July 29.
