The Los Angeles Dodgers announced in a statement prior to the 2025 World Series that pitcher Alex Vesia had been away from the team due to a “deeply personal family matter.”
The statement said that Vesia and his wife, Kayla, are navigating the family matter, with updates to be provided at a later date.
With the Dodgers then releasing their roster for the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, manager Dave Roberts then said Vesia would “most likely” be out for the full series.
Here’s what’s known about Vesia stepping away from the Dodgers.
Where is Alex Vesia?
The Dodgers released a statement Thursday, the day before Game 1 of the World Series, providing an update on Vesia.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we share that Alex Vesia is away from the team as he and his wife Kayla navigate a deeply personal family matter,” the statement said. “The entire Dodgers organization is sending our thoughts to the Vesia family, and we will provide an update at a later date.”
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 23, 2025
There were no further details about Vesia’s absence, or his timetable for a return, provided by the team.
Roberts, addressing reporters not long after the statement was released, said that as of Thursday, the Dodgers were still trying to decide a plan for their World Series roster with Vesia’s absence. Rosters had to be finalized by 10 a.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 23. Major League Baseball has a family medical emergency list that requires a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven days off the roster.
“We’re in the mode of trying to understand the process, the rules, a way that we could sort of try to navigate the roster,” Roberts said, per ESPN. “We’re going through the process of trying to backfill his spot on the roster.”
Asked initially whether Vesia would be off the roster for the entirety of the World Series, Roberts said “I think we’re just going day-to-day with really no expectations,” according to the AP.
The following day, the Dodgers released their World Series roster, which Vesia was not on. Roberts said that Vesia would “most likely” be out for the World Series, per Sonja Chen. Dodgers executive Andrew Friedman also said the team did not place Vesia on the family medical emergency list.
“We just didn’t want to have any potential for any kind of pressure. This is so much bigger than baseball,” Friedman said, per Chen. “For us, it was doing whatever small part we could to just a hundred percent be supportive.”
In Game 3 of the World Series, various Dodgers relievers were seen with Vesia’s No. 51 on their hats, with Vesia still away from the team.
Dodgers relievers all have Alex Vesia’s #51 on their hats. Vesia is away from the team right now as he and his wife Kayla are dealing with a personal matter 🙏
(h/t @_mlbfits) pic.twitter.com/EYifAoVTwn
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 28, 2025
Vesia, 29, posted a 3.02 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 59.2 innings in the regular season for Los Angeles. Throughout the 2025 postseason, he’s been a top left-handed arm for Roberts out of the bullpen, making seven appearances with two runs allowed and four strikeouts.
