Alex Vesia, a relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has spoken publicly for the first time about the death of his and wife Kayla Vesia’s newborn daughter, opening up about his decision to step away from baseball and how the couple has been coping in the months since their loss.
Vesia took an extended leave from the team ahead of the World Series in late October to be with his family, saying that leaving the clubhouse was emotionally challenging but necessary as they navigated their grief.
He said, “Stepping away from the team and the brothers I go to war with every day was difficult. But it was also an easy decision because my family needed me. We still watched every pitch of the World Series, and for us, in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness.”
During his absence, players from both the Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays honored him by wearing his No. 51 on their caps. He said the gesture carried deep emotional significance for him and Kayla and reflected the strength of the baseball community’s support.
“We were super overwhelmed with emotion and the baseball community, the relationships that you make along the way,” he said. “It showed that it’s much bigger than baseball.”
Alex Vesia read from a prepared statement when speaking to reporters this morning, thanking those who offered support after he and his wife, Kayla, lost their daughter during last year's World Series.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) February 13, 2026
Vesia's full statement: pic.twitter.com/YaD56ZT7ci
Vesia also pointed to messages from fans around the world and a signed jersey from the Los Angeles Rams as meaningful sources of comfort during the grieving process.
“The outpouring of love and support Kay and I have had over the past few months has been unmatched,” he said. “My DMs, messages are basically broken on Instagram from all the love … I’ve tried to read all the comments and everything, just because it’s meant the world.”
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In addition to leaning on the support of the community, Alex Vesia said he resumed training in early November in Arizona as part of his effort to cope with the loss while preparing for the upcoming season. “I immediately got back into the gym. I started my throwing program,” he explained.
He added, “Having something to look forward to has helped me. The gym has been my mental clarity. Being around the guys again, preparing for spring training, it’s been really nice. Gotten a lot of love so far in the clubhouse, and being able to laugh and joke around, that’s been really nice for me.”
Toronto Blue Jays Honor Alex Vesia As Messages Of Support Pour In From Across Baseball
Alex Vesia also publicly thanked the Toronto Blue Jays for their show of solidarity during the World Series, when players wore his number on their hats. He said he noticed the gesture while watching the games with Kayla and reached out to pitcher Louis Varland’s brother, Gus Varland, to confirm what he had seen.
“I’d like to thank the Toronto Blue Jays, their front office, coaching staff, and their players for showing us the support, they are a first class organization,” Vesia said. “And I just wanna say thank you to them. When Kay and I were watching the World Series, we noticed that there was 51 on Louis Varland’s hat.”
He further added, “I immediately texted Gus Varland, his brother, and I asked him if I was seeing that correctly. He texted me back right away, and he said, ‘The Varlands love you, dude. The whole Toronto bullpen has it too, it’s bigger than baseball, we love y’all.’”
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Vesia reiterated his appreciation for fans who sent supportive messages across social media in the months following his daughter’s death. He has since resumed offseason training activities while continuing preparations for spring training with the Dodgers.
