When the Dodgers revealed that Alex Vesia would not be included on the team’s World Series roster due to a family matter, the exact reason for his absence was unclear.
Friday, Vesia’s wife shared on her Instagram account the worst-case news that many feared.
More news: Blue Jays Pitchers Send Message to Dodgers’ Alex Vesia in Game 6 of World Series
“Our beautiful daughter went to heaven Sunday October 26th,” Kayla Vesia wrote. “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.”
On Oct. 23, the Dodgers announced the Vesias were navigating “a deeply personal family matter.” Kayla Vesia had announced on Instagram in April that the couple was expecting their first child.
While the Dodgers were defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series, manager Dave Roberts and the rest of the team did not comment publicly about about the nature of Vesia’s absence.
I’m not sure who else in the Blue Jays bullpen had Alex Vesia’s number on their hats but I for sure did see Chris Bassitt and Seranthony Dominguez with it.
Much respect! Whatever happens tomorrow, this is bigger than baseball. pic.twitter.com/1sYoG7UMZY
— 𝐀𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 ♛ (@Igotburners) November 1, 2025
In Game 6 of the World Series last Friday, every Blue Jays pitcher wrote the number 51 on their hat in tribute to Vesia.
More news: Dodgers’ Alex Vesia Gets Welcome News After World Series
“Thank you to the Dodgers for their understanding and support during this time,” Kayla Vesia wrote on Instagram. “Our baseball family showed up for us and we wouldn’t be able to do this without them.
“Thank you Dodger Nation, Blue Jays organization and all baseball fans for your love and support. We have seen ALL your messages, comments and posts. It’s brought us so much comfort.”
Vesia will return to the Dodgers in spring training next year after the team exercised its $3.65 million contract option on the 29-year-old pitcher Thursday.
Prior to the World Series, Vesia had not allowed a run in six consecutive postseason appearances, making his absence a potentially significant setback as the Dodgers set their 26-man roster to face the Blue Jays.
But the Dodgers’ priorities on the field took a back seat to the Vesias’ situation. All along, those associated with the Dodgers acknowledged that the pitcher was dealing with something bigger than baseball.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the Dodgers did not want to put any sort of pressure on Vesia by placing him on the Family Medical Emergency List, as opposed to leaving him off the World Series roster.
“Yeah I mean we just didn’t want to have any potential for any kind of pressure,” Friedman said of the team’s decision. “This is so much bigger than baseball and for us it was doing whatever small part we could to just, 100 percent be supportive.”
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