Alden GonzalezFeb 13, 2026, 03:00 PM ETCloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.Follow on XMultiple Authors
PHOENIX — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia spoke publicly Friday for the first time since losing a newborn daughter in the middle of last year’s World Series, reading from an emotionally charged statement for a little more than six minutes.
“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.”
Vesia, a critical piece to the back end of the Dodgers’ bullpen, was taken off the roster ahead of the World Series in late October, with his wife, Kayla, due to give birth. Their daughter, Sterling Sol, passed two days later, when the series shifted from Toronto to L.A. In Game 6, all the Blue Jays’ relievers wore Vesia’s No. 51 on their caps. Vesia’s bullpen teammates had the number inscribed throughout the series, which saw the Dodgers prevail in seven hotly contested games.
The NFL’s Los Angeles Rams later gifted Vesia a jersey signed by the entire team, with his daughter’s name emblazoned on the back. Vesia said he will soon hang it on a wall in his house.
“The outpouring of love and support Kay and I have had over the past few months has been unmatched,” he said. “We’re both grateful to not only Dodger nation but the fans worldwide. My DMs, messages — my DMs are basically broken on Instagram from all the love and support that we’ve had. I’ve tried to read all the comments and everything just because it’s meant the world, really.”
Vesia, 29, arrived in Arizona in early November and immediately began to work out. He called the gym his “mental clarity.” Shortly thereafter, he began his throwing program. On Friday, ahead of the Dodgers’ first official workout of spring training, Vesia threw a bullpen session from the team’s complex at Camelback Ranch.
“Being around the guys again, preparing for spring training, it’s been really nice,” Vesia said. “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.”
Vesia has been one of the Dodgers’ most trusted relievers over the past five years, putting up a 2.67 ERA in 295 regular-season appearances since his first full season in 2021 — not to mention a 1.86 ERA in 19⅓ playoff innings. That will continue in 2026, even after the offseason acquisition of star closer Edwin Diaz.
Alden GonzalezFeb 13, 2026, 03:00 PM ETCloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.Follow on X