Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia was notably absent during the team’s World Series run - and now the reason behind his silence has been revealed in a heartbreaking announcement.
Vesia and his wife, Kayla, have shared the devastating news that their newborn daughter, Sterling Sol Vesia, passed away on October 26.
The couple broke their silence in a joint Instagram post on Friday, revealing the unimaginable pain they’ve been navigating during what should have been a joyful chapter of their lives.
Accompanied by a touching photo of their hands resting atop their daughter’s, the message read: “Our little angel we love you forever & you’re with us always. Our beautiful daughter went to heaven Sunday October 26th. There are no words to describe the pain we’re going through but we hold her in our hearts and cherish every second we had with her.”
Dodgers Stand Behind Vesia in the Wake of Personal Loss
The 29-year-old pitcher had been away from the team since the start of the World Series, with the organization initially citing a “deeply personal family matter.”
It wasn’t until days after the Dodgers clinched the championship against the Toronto Blue Jays on November 1 that the heartbreaking details were made public.
In their emotional statement, the Vesias extended heartfelt gratitude to the Dodgers and the broader baseball community for their support through the ordeal.
“Thank you to the Dodgers for their understanding and support during this time,” they wrote. “Our baseball family showed up for us and we wouldn’t be able to do this without them.”
That gratitude extended beyond the dugout, with the couple recognizing fans across the sport who had reached out during their time of mourning.
“Thank you Dodger Nation, Blue Jays organization and all baseball fans for your love and support,” they added. “We have seen ALL your messages, comments and posts. It’s brought us so much comfort.”
Emotional Tribute: Dodgers Players Honor Vesia On the Field
Even though he wasn’t physically present, Vesia was far from forgotten by his teammates during the World Series.
In a quiet but powerful show of solidarity, several Dodgers players sported the number 51 - Vesia’s jersey number - on their caps during Game 3 at Dodger Stadium on October 27.
Veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw underscored the team’s unity and support: “I’m new to the bullpen. But Ves, he means a lot to all of us,” Kershaw said. “He’s a huge part of the team, a huge part of the bullpen, so we wanted to do something to honor him.”
Fellow pitcher Justin Wrobleski also joined in the tribute, reinforcing how deeply Vesia’s absence was felt among the team.
Dodgers Leadership Emphasizes “This Is Bigger Than Baseball”
From the front office to the manager’s chair, the Dodgers made it clear that supporting Vesia transcended any game-day priorities.
Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, speaking on October 24, emphasized the team’s focus on compassion over competition.
“This is so much bigger than baseball,” Friedman said. “And for us, it was doing whatever small part we could to just 100 percent be supportive.”
Friedman also explained why Vesia was not placed on the Family Medical Emergency List, a move that would have allowed him to rejoin the team after just three days.
“We just didn’t want to have any potential for any kind of pressure,” Friedman noted.
Manager Dave Roberts echoed similar sentiments during a press conference, as the team tried to adjust its roster around Vesia’s absence.
“I think right now we’re in the mode of trying to understand the process, the rules — a way that we can sort of try to navigate the roster,” Roberts said. “We’re going through the process of trying to backfill his spot on the roster.”