The Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed plenty of memorable moments during a historic, 18-inning World Series win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. But one gesture made during the game was particularly heartfelt.
During the game, Dodgers relievers appeared with a No. 51 written on their caps as a message for teammate Alex Vesia, who has been absent from the Fall Classic. Vesia has been ruled out of the World Series as he tends to a “deeply personal” family matter. The Dodgers haven’t provided additional details, but it has been reported that Vesia and his wife, Kayla, are expecting their first child.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we share that Alex Vesia is away from the team as he and his wife Kayla navigate a deeply personal family matter,” the Dodgers posted on X shortly before the World Series began. “The entire Dodgers organization is sending our thoughts to the Vesia family, and we will provide an update at a later date.”
The team opted not to place Vesia on the family medical emergency list as it didn’t want to place any kind of pressure on the reliever to return.
But on Monday, Vesia’s bullpen teammates made it clear that they are thinking of him with the decision to wear his jersey number written on their hats.
“I’m new to the bullpen. But Ves, he means a lot to all of us,” Clayton Kershaw, who moved to the relief corps for the World Series, said after Monday’s game. “He’s a huge part of the team, a huge part of the bullpen, so we wanted to do something to honor him.”
Vesia served as one of the Dodgers’ most consistent relievers during the regular season. On Monday, the team was able to outlast the Blue Jays in a marathon duel. But the bullpen’s gesture was an important reminder that its support for its teammate is bigger than baseball.
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