"The biggest thing is making sure your family is healthy" - Bryce Harper shares his thoughts on offering emotional support to Dodgers superstar

Bryce Harper excites MLB fans with his exuberant style of play. Yet he doesn't believe that winning baseball games is the most important thing for a player. The Philadelphia Phillies superstar reckons ensuring the health and safety of his family is his foremost priority.

Last week, Harper offered emotional support to Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman after his son was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Freeman was forced to leave his team after three-year-old Maximus went into full-body paralysis on July 26. Following a successful eight-day battle against the disease, Maximus was released from hospital on Aug. 4.

Two days later, Freeman returned to the Dodgers lineup against the Phillies at home. He received rapturous applause from the crowd when he stepped up to the plate before sharing a hug with Bryce Harper on reaching first base. Freeman later explained that Harper had contacted him several times during that difficult period to offer his support.

On Tuesday evening, Bryce Harper shared his thoughts with Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Whenever you hear about somebody's kids or anybody that's going through something, there's nothing more important than having healthy children,” Harper said. “There's a lot of things in life that you wish you want, but the biggest thing is making sure your family is healthy.

“I was checking on him, obviously,” Harper continued. “It's so much bigger than the game is, and I love Freddie as a human being, as a person, and his whole family, Chelsea and all of his kids. He's a good person, I just wanted to make sure he was OK. Check in on Max too.”

Bryce Harper and Freddie Freeman have struck up a solid friendship despite playing for rival teams in the National League. On the field, they are big rivals, but away from it, the pair share an endearing camaraderie.

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Freddie Freeman and Bryce Harper rose together to become iconic players in the MLB

Bryce Harper and Freddie Freeman have a solid friendship despite representing rival teams (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

Freddie Freeman was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Braves in 2007 before making his team debut three years later. Since then, he has earned eight All-Star selections aside from being named the NL MVP in 2020, while he's also regarded as one of the finest pure hitters in the game.

Meanwhile, Bryce Harper made one of the most highly anticipated MLB debuts in history, two years after he was chosen as the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Washington Nationals in 2010. He was named the Rookie of the Year before earning eight All-Star appearances and two MVP awards.

Freeman and Harper were division rivals for almost a decade but have also been teammates at the All-Star Game on several occasions. Meanwhile, the Phillies and the Dodgers have emerged as the two best teams in the NL this year and are likely heading towards a showdown in the postseason.

In the playoffs, Harper and Freeman may have to lead their respective teams to war against each other. But when the dust of the battle settles, the pair will resume their friendship once again.