Alex Vesia: Dodgers Fans Raise $75,000 for Toronto’s SickKids Hospital After Pitcher’s Heartbreaking Loss

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia has inspired an outpouring of compassion from baseball fans after sharing devastating personal news. Following the loss of his baby daughter, Dodgers fans raised over $75,000 for Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), turning grief into generosity after the World Series.

The donations began flooding in after Vesia revealed on Instagram that his newborn daughter, Sterling Sol, passed away on October 26. The pitcher and his wife, Kayla, shared their heartbreak, thanking the baseball community for its overwhelming support. “Our little angel, we love you forever. You’re with us always,” they wrote.

Fans Unite to Support SickKids in Tribute to Alex Vesia

According to reports from the Toronto Star and Yahoo Sports, Dodgers fans launched a donation drive through Reddit shortly after the team’s World Series win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The initiative began as a small gesture but quickly grew into a global act of kindness. Initially, donations totaled around $30,000 by Friday, but by Monday morning, that number had surged past $75,000 from more than 1,000 contributors.

Many fans chose to donate $51—Vesia’s jersey number—as a symbolic tribute. The effort mirrored similar acts of goodwill in baseball, including Blue Jays fans’ donations to Seattle Children’s Hospital after the ALCS. Sandra Chiovitti, a spokesperson for SickKids, confirmed that many supporters also signed up for recurring monthly donations.

“I was obviously thrilled that the Dodgers won,” said donor Helen Cumberbatch, “but I’ve known sports heartbreak too. This felt like a way to heal and give back.”

Community and Rivalry Take a Back Seat to Humanity

What started as a small Reddit campaign quickly became a unifying moment for the baseball world. Fans of both the Dodgers and Blue Jays came together to honor Vesia’s family, showing that empathy transcends competition. Even during the World Series, pitchers from both teams paid tribute by writing Vesia’s number, 51, on their caps.

The Dodgers organization expressed deep gratitude toward the Blue Jays and their supporters, emphasizing the solidarity between both teams. “Our baseball family showed up for us,” the Vesias wrote. “We wouldn’t be able to get through this without you.”

Similar displays of sportsmanship have emerged across major leagues in recent years. Earlier in 2025, Buffalo Bills fans—known as “Bills Mafia”—donated more than $70,000 to a diabetes charity supported by Ravens tight end Mark Andrews after a playoff loss. These acts demonstrate how sports rivalries can evolve into powerful humanitarian efforts.

Alex Vesia’s story is a reminder that compassion knows no boundaries. What began as a gesture of sympathy from a rival fanbase has turned into a movement that continues to bring hope and healing to families in need.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Who is Alex Vesia?

Alex Vesia is a relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, known for his key role in the team’s bullpen during the 2025 MLB season.

Q2: Why did Alex Vesia miss the World Series?

He missed the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays due to a personal family tragedy following the death of his newborn daughter.

Q3: How much did fans raise for SickKids Hospital?

As of Monday, more than $75,000 had been donated by over 1,000 fans, with many contributing $51 in tribute to Vesia’s jersey number.

Q4: How did fans organize the donations?

The initiative began on the Dodgers’ Reddit page after the World Series and was quickly shared across baseball communities in the U.S. and Canada.

Q5: Has this kind of fan donation happened before?

Yes, similar acts have occurred before, such as Bills Mafia raising funds for rival players’ charities following emotional or controversial moments in games.