Los Angeles – Amidst a storm of criticism and harsh comments from social media, Alex Vesia – considered the heart of the Dodgers bullpen – finally spoke up. His voice calm, his eyes weary, he wrote a message that left the baseball community speechless:
“Don’t just criticize if you haven’t felt the pain that others have. No one wants to leave a team right before the World Series. But there are things in life that are bigger than trophies.”
The message was posted on Vesia’s personal page just days after the Dodgers announced he would not play in the 2025 World Series due to a “serious family matter.” No details were revealed, only that he and his wife – Kayla – are facing a profound event that the team called “bigger than baseball.”
However, what hurt fans was not just Vesia’s absence, but also the way some unsympathetic viewers attacked him online – saying he “left the team because he was weak” or “gave up at the most important moment”. Those harsh words forced Vesia – who is usually quiet – to speak up to defend himself, not with anger, but with a touching sincerity.
According to MLB.com, Vesia still regularly sends messages of encouragement to his teammates, watching every game from afar. He called it “pain mixed with pride” – when his heart is still on the field, but his responsibilities force him to be elsewhere.
“I see them celebrating, fighting, and I am proud. But at the same time, my heart aches because I can’t be there with them. I don’t want anyone to be in this situation to understand that feeling.”
Teammates and coach Dave Roberts have all expressed their absolute support. “Alex was part of the soul of the team. We lost a strong arm, but more than that, a brother. What he was dealing with went far beyond the field,” Roberts said in a press conference.
Before this incident, Vesia had the best season of his career in 2025: 68 appearances, a 3.02 ERA and 5 saves. He was considered an irreplaceable cog in the Dodgers’ bullpen – someone who always showed up when the team needed him most.
So, when the World Series roster was announced without his name, many people thought it was a mistake. But the harsh truth: he left the team quietly, without fanfare, without goodbyes.
After his message, social media reversed. Thousands of fans sent words of encouragement:
“You don’t have to prove anything anymore. You’ve been fighting for this jersey all year.”
“I hope you and your family get through it soon. There are victories that are not on the scoreboard.”
In the cutthroat world of sports, where glory and achievement often overshadow emotion, Vesia reminded everyone that sometimes courage is not about staying on the field, but about daring to leave it for something more important.
Whether the Dodgers win a championship or not, Alex Vesia’s name will still be mentioned – not just as a great pitcher, but as a man who chose love over trophies.
Vesia concluded the article with a sentence that brought many to tears:
“I don’t know when I’ll be back, but I believe I will pitch again someday – with a light heart and the belief that I made the right choice.”
In an autumn when Los Angeles was hungry for glory, Alex Vesia taught everyone another lesson – about loss, courage and humanity amid the bright lights of the World Series.
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