It was a moment that transcended baseball’s biggest stage.
During World Series action between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitchers from the Jays put the competition aside and showed love to an absent pitcher.
Dodgers’ pitching stud Alex Vesia was absent from the World Series, with Los Angeles only saying he was dealing with a “deeply personal family matter.”
While he was gone, Blue Jays pitchers were seen with Vesia’s No. 51 on their caps.
We later learned that Vesia missed the World Series after his infant daughter passed away.
On Friday, Vesia spoke to the media for the first time, where he gave praise to the Blue Jays.
“I’d like to take the opportunity 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, and I just want to say thank you to them.”
He then explained his perspective from when he first saw the No. 51 on the hat of Blue Jays pitcher Louis Varland.
“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.'”Â
While speaking to the media, Vesia visibly showed the impact that the gesture had on him.
“We were overcome with emotion,” he said. “The baseball, the community, and the relationships that you make along the way…it showed that it’s much bigger than baseball.”
Vesia also talked about the utter heartbreak that he and his wife Kay experienced during the ordeal.
“The lessons we’ve learned from this is that life can change in an instant,” he said. “Ten minutes is all it took. Sterling Sol was the most beautiful girl in the world. We got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her and love her. Our time together was far too short.”
He also gave a message to any parents who endured a similar experience.
“Kay and I started therapy about six weeks ago,” Vesia said. “It hasn’t been easy, but talking to someone has made a difference. For those out there who have lost a child or are fighting through any struggle, if you can take anything from this, please seek help. Talk to somebody. It’s definitely helped Kay and I. Please don’t be afraid to speak up. Your mental health matters.”
Lead photo by
Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images