Alex Vesia, Dodgers pitcher who lost infant daughter, gets standing ovation after scoreless return to mound

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Perhaps, for the first time in 2026, Alex Vesia felt some normalcy Friday night.

The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher made his return to the pitcher's mound in his first major league outing since his infant daughter died just five days after she was born.

Before the World Series, the left-hander left the team to deal with a "deeply personal matter" and did not pitch in the Fall Classic. 

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Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia celebrates after the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, March 27, 2026, in Los Angeles.  (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Days after the Dodgers won the World Series, he and his wife announced their infant daughter had died.

Vesia returned to the team during spring training and then entered the Dodgers' game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh inning of a 4-4 tie.

It was quite a spot for Vesia to return, but given his 2.36 ERA over the last two seasons, it was no sweat. He left a runner stranded on second base and kept the D-Backs scoreless en route to the team's 5-4 win over their division rival.

Vesia let out a yell and pointed toward the Dodgers' family section while getting a standing ovation from the crowd.

Vesia was wearing a customized pink glove with his daughter's name, Sterling Sol, stitched on it, along with her birthdate and his wife's first initial, K for Kayla, embroidered on the glove's ring finger.

Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium March 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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