Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia announced on Friday that his daughter, Sterling, has passed away. The team had previously stated that Vesia was absent from the World Series due to a "deeply personal family matter."

In an emotional Instagram post, Vesia and his wife, Kayla, shared a heartfelt message. "Our little angel we love you forever & you’re with us always," they wrote, alongside a photo of an infant holding hands with adults. They revealed that their daughter died on Sunday, October 26. "There are no words to describe the pain we’re going through but we hold her in our hearts and cherish every second we had with her," they added.

During the regular season, Vesia had a record of 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA over 68 games. In the postseason, he went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in seven appearances. The Dodgers announced on October 23, the day before Game 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays, that Vesia would not be with the team in Toronto.

In a show of solidarity, Dodgers relievers wore Vesia’s No. 51 on their caps as a tribute. Blue Jays relievers also participated in this tribute during Game 6.

The Vesias expressed gratitude to the medical staff at Cedars Sinai Medical Center for their care. They also thanked both teams for their understanding and support during this difficult time. "Our baseball family showed up for us and we wouldn’t be able to do this without them," they wrote.

The couple acknowledged the outpouring of support from fans, saying, "Thank you Dodger Nation, Blue Jays organization and all baseball fans for your love and support. We have seen ALL your messages, comments and posts. It’s brought us so much comfort."

The Dodgers went on to win the World Series against the Blue Jays in seven games, marking their second consecutive championship.