Subtle tribute to Alex Vesia spotted on Blue Jays’ outfits after Dodgers star misses World Series with ‘personal matter’

BASEBALL stars expressed support for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia with a subtle gesture during the World Series.

Vesia stepped away from the team just before the MLB championship series last month, with a statement confirming: “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.

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Alex Vesia missed the World Series due to a family matterCredit: Getty

The Dodgers sent well wishes to Vesia and his wife, Kayla

“The entire Dodgers organization is sending our thoughts to the Vesia family, and we will provide an update at a later date.”

The 29-year-old missed the entire series, which also involved the Toronto Blue Jays over the last fortnight.

Both teams paid tribute to Vesia during the event with a subtle act.

Each player had the number 51 stitched onto their caps from game three to show support for the pitcher.

Clayton Kershaw said: “Ves, he means a lot to all of us. He is a huge part of this team and a huge part of that bullpen.

“We just wanted to do something to honor him.”

Meanwhile, Will Klein added: “I would like to let them speak about that when they want to. But just keeping them in our thoughts and our prayers.

“There’s bigger things than baseball, and he’s in all of our hearts.”

Players from both teams had the number 51 stitched onto their caps in tributeCredit: Getty

The Blue Jays followed suit, with Dodgers ace Kiké Hernandez revealing before game seven: “After [Chris] Bassitt struck me out, and then I was looking up at the board to see the replay, and that’s when I saw that he had 51.

“Instead of being mad that I struck out, I was kind of going back to the dugout thinking, Did Bassitt play with Vesia at some point? And then after the game, I saw that everybody had them.

“For those guys to do that, it’s incredible. They’re trying to win a World Series, but they understand that this is — life is bigger than baseball, and baseball’s just a game.

“For them to do that with the stakes — where we were at with the stakes, hat’s off to them, and I want them to know that we appreciate them.

“Regardless of what happens tonight, we appreciate what they did.”

The Dodgers went on to win the World Series 5-4 on Sunday.