Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen pitcher Vesia missed the World Series due to the tragic passing of his newborn daughter.

Alex Vesia, the Dodgers left-handed bullpen pitcher who missed the World Series for personal reasons, publicly revealed today that his newborn daughter with his wife Kyla passed away during the World Series period.

Prior to the World Series, the Dodgers announced that Vesia would not be included on the roster due to personal matters. While no specific details were shared, it was known that he and his wife were about to welcome their first child. Later, Dodgers baseball operations president Andrew Friedman mentioned a family medical matter, leading many to speculate it involved the baby’s health.

Vesia expressed his grief on social media today: “Sterling Sol Vesia. Our little angel, we will love you forever, and you will always live in our hearts. Our beautiful daughter went to heaven on Sunday, October 26th. No words can describe the pain we feel now, but we will cherish every second we had with her.”

The first game of this year’s World Series took place locally on October 24, and October 26 was the travel day between games two and three. On that day, the team’s flight returning from Canada to the U.S. was delayed for several hours, likely when the players learned of Vesia’s family tragedy.

“Thank you to the Los Angeles Dodgers for their understanding and support during this time. Our baseball family has stood by us, and without their help, we could not have gotten through this difficult period,” Vesia wrote.

From the first game of the World Series, Dodgers pitchers wore caps embroidered with Vesia’s number 51 in his honor. Starting with game six, the Toronto Blue Jays also added number 51 to their caps to show support. Vesia said, “We also want to thank Dodgers fans, the Blue Jays organization, and all baseball fans for their care and support. We have seen all the messages, comments, and posts, and they have brought us great comfort.”

“Finally, we want to thank Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and all the healthcare staff who cared for Kyla and Sterling. Every medical professional we encountered showed exceptional professionalism,” Vesia added.