Alex Vesia addresses media for first time since daughter’s death, asks for privacy as season begins

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia returned to the microphone Friday with a six-minute statement that was raw, measured, and resolute, his first public remarks since he and his wife, Kayla, lost their newborn daughter, Sterling Sol, on Oct. 26. Vesia, who did not take questions, thanked the baseball community for its embrace and asked for privacy as the couple continues to heal.

A halting statement from the heart

Vesia stood before cameras and read from his phone, pausing several times to steady himself. He made clear he would not field questions and instead wanted to share what the past months have demanded of him and his family.

“The lessons we’ve learned from this is that life can change in an instant. For us, 10 minutes is all it took, ” Vesia said. “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. I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we’re carrying her with us every day. ”

He closed by asking for space as the season unfolds. “Kayla and I will keep those precious moments and memories to ourselves. I hope anyone listening can empathize and respect our wishes for privacy as we continue to heal and as we navigate the ups and downs of a baseball season. ”

Grief, counseling, and a return to routine

Vesia said he and his wife began grief counseling about six weeks ago and have leaned on a structured routine to steady themselves. After stepping away during the World Series to be with his family, he returned home, rejoined a throwing program, and immersed himself in workouts.

“Having something to look forward to has helped me, ” Vesia said. “The gym has been my mental clarity. Being around the guys again matters, too. ”

Baseball’s embrace, bigger than the game

Even as he remained away from the club during the World Series, Vesia and Kayla watched every pitch together. He said that, in a dark stretch, the community that grew around them became a light. Teammates honored him with his number on their caps, and in a powerful show of solidarity, relievers on the opposing side joined in by wearing his number as well.

“We noticed 51 on a pitcher’s hat and texted to see if we were seeing it right, ” Vesia recalled. “He replied right away: ‘It’s bigger than baseball. We love y’all. ’ Kayla and I were very emotional. We were super overwhelmed. The relationships you make along the way—it showed it was much bigger than baseball. ”

Vesia added that the support poured in from well beyond the diamond, with messages and gestures arriving from across the sports world and from fans globally. “My DMs are basically broken on Instagram from all the love and support, ” he said. “We’re beyond grateful. ”

On-field context and what comes next

Before stepping away, Vesia had been a pivotal bullpen arm during the postseason, delivering a perfect inning in the clincher against Milwaukee and stringing together multiple scoreless outings in October. His stuff and poise positioned him for a prominent role in the World Series, a stage he watched from home while grieving with his family.

This spring, he has returned looking strong and purposeful. Club officials and teammates have emphasized both patience and support as he ramps up, with the understanding that baseball clocks and personal timelines do not always move in sync. The bullpen picture remains competitive, and Vesia’s presence—when he’s ready—figures to stabilize late-inning matchups on the left-handed side.

A message of gratitude

Vesia repeatedly credited his teammates, staff, and the broader baseball community for standing by him and Kayla. “We are beyond grateful to be a part of this organization and this family, ” he said, noting the many quiet acts of kindness they’ve received. He highlighted heartfelt gestures from across the league and from other sports, mementos he plans to keep close.

Through it all, Vesia’s remarks circled back to Sterling, to the brief but indelible time he and Kayla spent with their daughter, and to a promise to carry her memory forward. “We’re carrying her with us every day, ” he said. “Thank you to everyone who has lifted us up. Please continue to respect our privacy as we heal. ”