Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia revealed the devastating reason behind his absence from the World Series.
In a joint post on Instagram with his wife, Kayla, on Friday, the couple announced they are mourning the loss of their baby, Sterling Sol Vesia.
“Our little angel we love you forever & you’re with us always,” the post read. “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.”
Vesia, 29, had been away from the team since the start of the World Series, with what the Dodgers deemed as a “deeply personal family matter,” in a statement on Oct. 23. The couple had announced in April that they were expecting a child.
“Thank you to the Dodgers for their understanding and support during this time,” the couple added. “Our baseball family showed up for us and we wouldn’t be able to do this without them.”
The two also thanked the Dodgers’ fans and the Blue Jays for their support during the difficult time.
“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.”
Vesia did not appear at all in the World Series after pitching in seven games this postseason. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman previously said that the issue was bigger than the game.
“This is so much bigger than baseball,” Friedman said on Oct. 24. “And for us, it was doing whatever small part we could to just 100 percent be supportive.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
