World Series champions Kiké Hernandez, Blake Snell, Will Smith, and Tyler Glasnow sat down with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts during the Tuesday, November 4, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The crew discussed all things World Series — from the 18-inning Game 3 to the incredible save by Andy Pages in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 7 — but did not discuss pitcher Alex Vesia’s absence from the team.
The Dodgers announced on October 23, just one day ahead of the World Series, that Vesia would not be joining the team in Toronto for the start of the series due to a “deeply personal family matter.”
“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 began. “The entire Dodgers organization is sending our thoughts to the Vesia family, and we will provide an update at a later date.”
Later that day, Roberts explained in a press conference that they were trying “to navigate the roster.”
Vesia ultimately did not make the World Series roster. Throughout the series, however, the entire Dodgers bullpen, as well as the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen, honored Vesia by stitching and writing his number, 51, on their hats.
“It’s everything,” Roberts said of the gesture, according to Newsweek. “I didn’t learn that until after the game last night, and I think it really speaks to the brotherhood of athletes, Major League Baseball players. They’ll all say that ‘baseball is what we do but its not who we are,’ and for these guys to recognize Alex, and what he and Kayla have gone through, heartbreaking is not even a good enough descriptor.”
Neither Vesia nor his wife, Kayla — who was pregnant with the couple’s first child — has commented on the matter.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 on Saturday, November 1. Two days later, the team celebrated with fans during a victory parade in Los Angeles. Vesia and his wife were not in attendance