On Monday, October 27, 2025, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t just win Game 3 of the World SeriesRogers Centre — they honored a teammate who wasn’t there. With 12 players wearing adhesive patches bearing the number 51 on the right side of their caps, the Dodgers paid silent but powerful tribute to Alex Vesia, their 28-year-old left-handed reliever, who was away from the team supporting his pregnant wife, Kayla Vesia, through what the organization called a "deeply personal family matter." The game ended 4-3 in 11 innings, but the emotional weight of the moment lingered far beyond the final out.
A Silent Gesture With Deep Meaning
The idea came from within the dugout — not the front office, not the PR team, but the players themselves. Clayton Kershaw, the 37-year-old veteran who shifted to the bullpen this postseason after 17 seasons as a starter, explained it simply after the game: "Yeah, just something that we talked about... he means a lot to all of us. He was a huge part of this team, a huge part of that bullpen." It wasn’t flashy. No banners. No speeches. Just 51 — stitched on fabric, worn in silence.
Among those wearing the patch: Mookie Betts, the team captain and All-Star right fielder; Freddie Freeman, the 35-year-old first baseman and World Series MVP frontrunner; and Will Smith, the catcher who’s been catching Vesia’s slider for years. Each one wore it from warmups until the final out — even as the game stretched into extra innings under the bright lights of Toronto.
The Absence Behind the Numbers
Alex Vesia isn’t just another reliever. Born in Alpine, California, on July 17, 1997, he stands 6’1" and weighs 215 pounds — a physical presence that matches his mental toughness. Drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2018, he was traded to the Dodgers on December 16, 2020, and quietly became one of their most reliable lefty arms. In the 2025 regular season, he pitched 69.1 innings across 66 appearances with a 2.87 ERA — a number that doesn’t capture his ability to get out of jams with runners on base.
He’s the guy who throws a 91-mph sinker with a devastating slider, the one who laughs in the bullpen while others are tense, the one who texts rookies before big games. The Dodgers’ locker room felt his absence. "You notice when someone’s gone," said one anonymous reliever after the game. "Not because he’s loud — because he’s steady. You just expect him to be there. When he’s not, you feel it."
On October 23, 2025, the Los Angeles Base Ball Club of Los Angeles, Inc. released a statement on Instagram: "It is 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 entire Dodgers organization is sending our thoughts to the Vesia family..." Since then, no details have been shared. Not by the team. Not by Vesia. Not by Kayla, who is reportedly seven months pregnant. The silence speaks volumes.
Why This Matters Beyond the Diamond
In an era where athletes are constantly under the microscope — where every tweet, every Instagram post, every injury update is dissected — the Dodgers’ decision to honor Vesia without prying is a rare act of dignity. It’s not just about baseball. It’s about humanity.
Major League Baseball has long struggled with balancing transparency and privacy. The league has protocols for bereavement leave, paternity leave, and mental health days — but rarely do teams publicly acknowledge the emotional weight behind those absences. The Dodgers didn’t just grant Vesia time off. They gave him space — and then, in the most public setting possible, they made sure the world knew why he was missing.
It’s a reminder that sports aren’t just about stats and championships. They’re about people. And sometimes, the most important plays happen off the field.
What Comes Next?
General Manager Brandon Gomes made it clear after Game 3: "Alex’s well-being and family situation remain our top priority, and he will rejoin the team when he and his family feel ready." There’s no timeline. No pressure. No speculation from the organization.
That’s unusual in professional sports. Teams often rush players back. They leak updates. They use absences for narrative-building. The Dodgers did none of that. They let Vesia breathe. And in doing so, they set a new standard.
As the World Series heads to Los Angeles for Game 4, the #51 patches will likely remain. Whether Vesia returns this series or not, his presence has already changed the tone of the postseason. For the Dodgers, this isn’t just a tribute — it’s a statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t the Dodgers disclose what happened to Alex Vesia’s family?
The Dodgers have consistently respected the Vesia family’s privacy, citing "deeply personal" circumstances without elaboration. Even as media inquiries surged after Game 3, neither Alex nor Kayla Vesia have publicly shared details. The organization’s stance — prioritizing well-being over public curiosity — aligns with growing norms in professional sports around mental and family health confidentiality.
How common are team tributes like this during the World Series?
While teams occasionally wear memorial patches for deceased players or figures, it’s rare for a living teammate’s absence to be honored so visibly during the World Series. The last comparable instance was in 2021, when the Atlanta Braves wore a #29 patch for pitcher Ian Anderson’s father, who was battling cancer. But unlike that case, Vesia’s situation remains private, making this tribute more emotionally resonant and less performative.
Has Alex Vesia been a key player for the Dodgers this season?
Absolutely. In 2025, Vesia appeared in 66 games — the most on the team among relievers — pitching 69.1 innings with a 2.87 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. He was especially effective against left-handed hitters (.194 batting average against) and often pitched in high-leverage situations. His absence created a noticeable gap in the bullpen, which manager Dave Roberts has managed by shifting roles among Kershaw, Daniel Hudson, and Justin Wrobleski.
What’s the significance of the number 51?
Number 51 is Vesia’s jersey number — the identifier he’s worn since joining the Dodgers in 2021. Unlike retired numbers, which honor legends, this was a spontaneous, player-driven gesture to recognize a current teammate’s humanity. The number wasn’t chosen for symbolism — it was chosen because it’s his. That simplicity made the tribute more powerful.
Could Alex Vesia return during the World Series?
It’s possible, but unlikely before Game 6 at the earliest. The Dodgers have given no indication of a return timeline, and Vesia’s absence coincides with the most critical stage of his wife’s pregnancy. Even if he returns, he’d need to be physically and mentally ready. The team’s priority isn’t winning a ring — it’s supporting a family. That’s the real legacy of this moment.
How has the baseball community responded to this tribute?
The response has been overwhelmingly supportive. Former players like Curt Schilling and David Ortiz praised the Dodgers on social media. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement calling it "a beautiful example of the humanity that underpins our game." Even the Toronto Blue Jays, opponents on the field, expressed solidarity — with several players wearing black armbands during pregame warmups. In a sport often criticized for its commercialism, this moment felt refreshingly human.