Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia and his spouse, Kayla, introduced on Instagram on Friday that their child daughter, Sterling, died on Oct. 26 — a tragic loss that brought about Vesia to overlook the Dodgers’ look within the World Collection final week.
“Our little angel, we love you eternally & you’re with us all the time,” the Vesias wrote. “There aren’t any phrases to explain the ache we’re going via however we maintain her in our hearts and cherish each second we had along with her.”
The Vesias had been anticipating the start of Sterling, their first youngster, throughout the Dodgers’ postseason run. Her dying got here throughout the World Collection, forcing Vesia to step away from the membership.
The day earlier than Sport 1 of the World Collection, the Dodgers publicly introduced Vesia was not with the workforce due to a “deeply private household matter.” The Dodgers left him off their World Collection roster, in addition to the household medical emergency record, in order to not strain him into feeling he wanted to return.
“That is a lot larger than baseball,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman stated on the time. “And for us, it was doing no matter small half we might to simply 100% be supportive.”
The Dodgers’ bullpen honored Vesia in Sport 3 of the World Collection, with every reliever writing his No. 51 on the perimeters of their caps for the remainder of the sequence. The Toronto Blue Jays’ relievers did the identical in Video games 6 and seven, a gesture a number of Dodgers publicly acknowledged and deeply appreciated.
“I feel it actually speaks to the brotherhood of athletes, main league baseball gamers,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts forward of Sport 7. “Baseball is what we do, however it’s not who we’re. And for these guys to acknowledge Alex and what he and Kayla have gone via — ‘heartbreaking’ will not be even a adequate descriptor.”
“For these guys to do this, it’s unbelievable,” outfielder Kiké Hernández added. “They’re making an attempt to win a World Collection, however they perceive that that is — life is greater than baseball, and baseball’s only a sport. For them to do this with the stakes the place we’re at, hats off to them, and I would like them to know that we recognize ‘em.”
The Vesias additionally thanked the Dodgers, Blue Jays and baseball followers for his or her assist.
“Our baseball household confirmed up for us and we wouldn’t be capable to do that with out them,” they wrote. “We now have seen ALL your messages, feedback and posts. It’s introduced us a lot consolation.”
Vesia was a key a part of the Dodgers’ bullpen in each the common season (when he had a 3.02 ERA in a career-high 68 appearances) and the primary three rounds of the playoffs (when he allowed simply two runs in seven outings).
On Thursday, the Dodgers picked up Vesia’s $3.65-million choice for subsequent season, avoiding arbitration earlier than what will probably be his ultimate yr earlier than reaching free company.
