Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia and his wife, Kayla, have shared the devastating news of their infant daughter's passing. The reliever, who missed the recent World Series for a personal family matter, confirmed the tragic loss of their daughter, Sterling.
A Heartbreaking Announcement
The couple made the emotional announcement on Instagram, posting a poignant image of an infant's hand holding an adult's fingers. Their daughter, Sterling, passed away on Sunday, October 26th, a loss the Vesias described as leaving them with unimaginable pain.
"Our little angel we love you forever & you're with us always," the couple wrote in their social media post. They added, "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."
Baseball Community Rallies in Support
The Dodgers organization had initially stated only that Vesia was absent from the team for a "deeply personal family matter" when he missed Game 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays on October 23. In a powerful show of solidarity, Dodgers relievers wore Vesia's jersey number, 51, on their caps throughout the series as a tribute to their absent teammate.
This gesture of support extended across team lines, with Blue Jays relievers also wearing the number 51 for Game 6 of the championship series. The Dodgers ultimately secured their second consecutive World Series title, winning the series against Toronto in seven games.
Gratitude Amid Grief
In their statement, the Vesia family expressed profound gratitude for the support they received. They specifically thanked the medical staff at Cedars Sinai Medical Center for the care provided to their family.
They also acknowledged the baseball community's role in helping them through their grief. "Our baseball family showed up for us and we wouldn't be able to do this without them," the couple wrote, extending thanks to the Dodgers organization, the Toronto Blue Jays, and fans worldwide for their messages of comfort and support.
Vesia had a strong regular season performance, recording a 3.02 ERA in 68 appearances, and contributed to the Dodgers' postseason success with a 2-0 record in seven playoff games before his tragic personal loss.
