The Los Angeles Dodgers are striving to become the first team in 25 years to secure consecutive World Series titles. Amidst this high-stakes pursuit, the team’s focus remains on teammate Alex Vesia and his family.
Vesia, 29, stepped away from the team on Thursday, October 23. He and his pregnant wife, Kayla, are navigating a deeply personal family matter.
Dodgers pitcher Jack Dreyer, 26, emphasized the team’s solidarity. “Without him here, I think it was just about showing that we’re united with him and Kayla in this moment,” he told The Athletic in a report published Tuesday, October 28.
In a poignant display of support, members of the Dodgers bullpen wore Vesia’s No. 51 embroidered on their caps. This gesture was evident as they took the field for World Series Game 3 on Monday, October 27.
Dreyer underscored the gesture’s importance. “It’s just a small gesture we can make to show him that we care and that we’re thinking of him,” he stated. “We’d really miss him here, but at the end of the day, we’re a family.”
The team’s bullpen delivered a heroic effort during Game 3. The marathon contest extended to 18 innings before Los Angeles secured a victory with Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run.
Toronto subsequently tied the best-of-seven series. They achieved a 6-2 triumph in Game 4 on Tuesday.
Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan, 25, who pitched 2.2 innings in Game 3, noted the emotional atmosphere. “It’s been a very emotional environment down there lately, with everything going on with Ves,” Sheehan told The Athletic. “We were thinking about him all night.”
Reliever Justin Wrobleski, who pitched 1.2 innings in Game 3, highlighted Vesia’s significance. He described Vesia as “a very important part of our team and everything we do, everything we’ve done.”
Another Dodgers pitcher, Evan Phillips, 31, echoed these sentiments. “Vesia’s situation affects us a lot lately,” he said. “We certainly miss him on the field, but we know he has our support.” Phillips and Vesia have shared a bullpen spot since 2021.
Star pitcher Clayton Kershaw, 37, recently transitioned to a bullpen role. He spoke about Vesia after Game 3, where he secured a crucial bases-loaded out in the 12th inning.
“I’m new to the bullpen,” Kershaw told reporters. “But Ves means a lot to all of us.”
Regarding the cap gesture, Kershaw added, “He’s a very important part of the team, a very important part of the bullpen, so we wanted to do something to honor him.”
The Dodgers have not provided further information regarding Vesia’s family situation. He is not expected to rejoin the team for the remainder of the World Series.
Game 5 between the Dodgers and the Blue Jays is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, at Dodger Stadium. The series will then return to Toronto for Game 6 on Friday, October 31.