LA Dodgers star Alex Vesia seeks fresh start as he returns to mound after tragic loss of newborn daughter

Four months after stepping away from baseball during the World Series, Alex Vesia walked back onto a big league mound. The Los Angeles Dodgers reliever made his spring debut Monday in a 3-0 win over the Seattle Mariners, marking his first game appearance since the death of his newborn daughter, Sterling.Vesia threw one scoreless inning on 17 pitches. On paper, it was a routine outing. Fans rose when he entered in the fifth inning. Teammates lined up to greet him in the dugout. For a pitcher who missed the entire World Series during a season that ended in a championship, the return of the Dodgers star was special.

Alex Vesia returns to the mound following the death of his newborn daughter

Following his return, Alex Vesia did not hide the emotion that came with the moment. “We’ve been waiting for that one,” he said after the game.

“It was a little overwhelming … just trying to take it all in.”

The 29-year-old said the winter tested him and his wife, Kayla, in ways he never expected. He leaned on workouts and daily routines to regain focus. He began training again in November, spending extra hours in the gym searching for clarity while grieving.His goal this spring is simple. “I just want to have fun on the mound,” he said. “I just want to be able to spazz out and be myself out there.

Because right now, I feel really good out there. It’s just me and myself and baseball.”Manager Dave Roberts saw the impact firsthand. “To see him get back out here in a baseball game, in a big league game, and have a clean inning and be received by the fans, I know it meant a lot to him,” Roberts said. “And obviously, his teammates feel for him and want to support him. So today was a really good day for Alex.”

What happened to Alex Vesia's daughter?

Vesia missed the Dodgers’ World Series run last fall after he and Kayla lost their newborn daughter shortly after the series began.

He later shared the news publicly and thanked supporters for their compassion.

This spring, he has felt that support again. “We walk out the doors, and (there was) cheers and lots of love,” he said. “It means a lot.”He also admitted balancing emotion and responsibility has not been easy. “has been hard, (but) hard in a good way, because I want to interact with the fans and all that, but I know I have a job to do.”Vesia appears to be focused as he looks for a fresh start following the family tragedy.