Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia returns to Dodger Stadium for 2026 opening day after newborn daughter's death
Authored by prc-ayxsports.net, 28-03-2026
Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed relief pitcher Alex Vesia returned to Dodger Stadium, known as Chavez Ravine, for the team's opening day of the 2026 Major League Baseball season following the death of his newborn daughter, Sterling Sol.
Vesia had left the team before the 2025 World Series to address a deeply personal family matter and did not pitch in the Fall Classic. Days after the Dodgers won the series, he and his wife, Kayla, announced their infant daughter's passing.
Kayla Vesia described opening day as "very bittersweet" in an Instagram post, writing: "What I would give to have my Sterling girl here, carrying her in my heart always."
In his first news conference of spring training in February 2026, Vesia called his wife "the strongest person that I know" and a key support system. He reflected: "Life can change in an instant. For us, 10 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."
Vesia noted that stepping away from his teammates was difficult but necessary for his family. "We still watched every pitch of the World Series, and for us in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness," he said. "I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we're carrying her with us every day. It's been hard, but we're doing OK."
Alex Vesia, born April 2, 1996, in Berkeley, California, joined the Dodgers in a 2020 trade from the Miami Marlins organization and wears uniform number 51.[1] The club plays its home games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, which opened in 1962.[2]
In 2024, Vesia appeared in 57 games for the Dodgers, posting a 1.25 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched.[3]
Sources
- MLB.com
Alex Vesia Player Page
Accessed October 10, 2024
https://www.mlb.com/player/alex-vesia-666742 - Wikipedia
Dodger Stadium
Accessed October 10, 2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodger_Stadium - Baseball-Reference.com
Alex Vesia Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com
Accessed October 10, 2024
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vesiaal01.shtml