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Key Points Alex Vesia missed the World Series for a "deeply personal matter," which remains undisclosed. Teammate Will Klein and even opponents honored him by writing his jersey number on their hats. Dodgers' manager emphasized the tribute's emotional significance and team solidarity. Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia may not have taken the mound during this year’s World Series, but his teammates made sure his presence was unmistakably felt. Vesia, who missed the championship series due to what the team called a “deeply personal matter,” became the emotional center of the Dodgers’ run at the World Series, especially after they clinched the win during Game 7 on Monday, November 3 — their second consecutive World Series title. Following the big win, reliever Will Klein shared that the team’s celebration wasn’t complete without Vesia, 29. “We’ve all messaged him and just wanted him to know that he was in our heart. We did this all for him,” Klein said. “He’s such a big part of why we were here in the first place.” Throughout the series, Dodgers players paid tribute to their absent teammate by writing his jersey number, 51, on the side of their hats. In an unexpected show of sportsmanship, the opposing Toronto Blue Jays bullpen followed suit during Game 6, marking their own caps with the same number. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also said the tribute meant more than words could express. “It’s everything,” Roberts told reporters. “I didn’t learn that until after the game last night, and I think it really speaks to the brotherhood of athletes, Major League Baseball players.” He continued, “They’ll all say that ‘baseball is what we do but it’s not who we are,’ and for these guys to recognize Alex, and what he and [Vesia’s wife] Kayla have gone through, heartbreaking is not even a good enough descriptor.”
