Dodgers' Alex Vesia grateful for support after daughter's death - ESPN

PHOENIX — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia spoke publicly Friday for the first time since losing a newborn daughter in the middle of last year's World Series, reading from an emotionally charged statement for a little more than six minutes.

In it, Vesia thanked the Dodgers for their support, touched on the impact of so many others offering their condolences, and revealed he and his wife have sought therapy to help with the grieving process. He implored others who have navigated a similar tragedy to do the same.

«The lessons we've learned from this is that life can change in an instant,» Vesia said, reading from his smartphone and pausing intermittently to gather his emotions. «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. I hope that anyone listening can empathize and respect our wishes for privacy as we continue to heal and as we navigate the ups and downs of a baseball season.

»Stepping away from the team and the brothers I go to war with every day was difficult. But it was also an easy decision because my family needed me. We still watched every pitch of the World Series, and for us, in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness."

Vesia, a critical piece to the back end of the Dodgers' bullpen, was taken off the roster ahead of the World Series in late October, with his wife, Kayla, due to give birth. Their daughter, Sterling Sol, passed two days later, when the series shifted from Toronto to L.A. In Game 6, all the Blue Jays' relievers wore Vesia's No. 51 on their caps. Vesia's bullpen teammates had