Alex Vesia is keeping his loved ones close to his heart, and in his first game since the tragic loss of his and wife Kayla Vesia's precious newborn baby Sterling Sol Vesia, the Los Angeles Dodgers player paid a poignant tribute to his family with a customized baseball glove. During the March 27 match against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Alex, 29, can be seen wearing a dark pink glove that carries a deep personal significance. As sports commentators noted, his mitt not only had Sterling's name etched into the side of it but also featured her birth date written on the inside.
But that's not all. To honor Kayla, also 29, the first letter of her name was sewed onto the glove's ring finger. The next day, Alex reflected on returning to the sport that he loves. "Same goals... different perspectives... new motivations," he wrote on Instagram March 26. "Thankful for everyone who has stuck by me."
"Dodger Nation gonna bring the energy," he added with a red heart. "I'm going to make you proud SSV." And Kayla also touched on the "very bitter sweet" MLB Opening Day. "What I would give to have my Sterling girl here," she wrote on Instagram March 26. "Carrying her in my heart always."
Alex's return to the field comes five months after the Dodgers announced that he was stepping away from the team to handle a "deeply personal family matter" just one day before the 2025 World Series. Two weeks later, Kayla shared the heartbreaking news that the couple had lost their baby.
Recently, the pro pitcher spoke out for the first time about how the couple—who wed in January 2025—have been coping with their grief. "The lessons we've learned from this is that life can change in an instant," Alex said during a press conference Feb. 13. "Ten 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. Kay and I will keep those precious moments and memories to ourselves."
He added, "I hope that anyone listening can empathize and respect our wishes for privacy as we continue to heal and navigate the ups and downs of a baseball season."
