Dodgers Pitcher Alex Vesia Announces Heartbreaking Family Loss
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia revealed on Friday that his infant daughter, Sterling, has passed away. The pitcher had previously missed the World Series for what the team described as a deeply personal family matter.
Vesia and his wife, Kayla, shared the devastating news through an emotional Instagram post that showed an adult hand holding their baby's tiny fingers. Our little angel we love you forever & you're with us always, they wrote. Our beautiful daughter went to heaven Sunday October 26th.
Baseball Community Shows Overwhelming Support
The Dodgers organization announced Vesia's absence on October 23, just before Game 1 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. In a moving tribute, Dodgers relievers wore Vesia's jersey number 51 on their caps throughout the series.
Showing remarkable sportsmanship and compassion, Blue Jays relievers joined the tribute for Game 6, wearing the same number in solidarity with their grieving opponent.
Vesia's Season Performance and Family Gratitude
During the regular season, Vesia posted impressive numbers with a 3.02 ERA in 68 games and went 4-2. He continued his strong performance in the postseason with a 3.86 ERA in seven appearances and a 2-0 record.
The Vesia family expressed deep gratitude to the medical staff at Cedars Sinai Medical Center for their care. They also thanked both baseball organizations and fans for their overwhelming support. Our baseball family showed up for us and we wouldn't be able to do this without them, they wrote, acknowledging the comfort brought by messages from fans across the sport.
The Dodgers ultimately won the World Series in seven games, capturing their second consecutive championship while supporting their teammate through this profound personal tragedy.
