### A Heartbreaking Loss: Jonathan Owens Sends Deepest Condolences to Dodgers Pitcher Alex Vesia After Daughter’s Passing
In the world of sports, where triumphs are celebrated with roaring crowds and championships etched into history, moments of profound sorrow remind us of the fragile humanity that binds athletes together. Just half an hour before this story unfolded on social media, Jonathan Owens, the devoted husband of Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles, reached out with a message of unwavering support to Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia. The reason behind this gesture cuts deep: Vesia and his wife, Kayla, had tragically lost their newborn daughter, Sterling Sol Vesia, on October 26, 2025—a date that forever altered the course of their lives amid the Dodgers’ triumphant World Series run. As Owens’ words of condolence spread like wildfire across platforms, they not only highlighted the quiet solidarity among athletes but also sparked a wave of reflection on grief’s unyielding grip, even in the glare of victory. What drives one champion to uplift another in their darkest hour, and how does this ripple through the broader tapestry of sports and family?
Alex Vesia, the 29-year-old left-handed reliever known for his electric fastball and unflinching presence in high-stakes innings, had been a cornerstone of the Dodgers’ bullpen throughout the 2025 season. With a stellar 4-2 record and a 3.02 ERA across 68 appearances, he had pitched his way into the hearts of Dodger faithful, emerging as a key figure in the playoffs where he notched a 2-0 mark with a 3.86 ERA in seven outings. The Dodgers, fresh off clinching their second consecutive World Series title against the Toronto Blue Jays in a grueling seven-game series ending on November 1, owed much of their success to the depth of their relief corps. Yet, as Game 1 loomed on October 24, Vesia’s absence loomed larger still. The team announced he was stepping away for a “deeply personal family matter,” a phrase that carried the weight of unspoken pain without revealing its full measure. Fans speculated, but the clubhouse knew: Vesia and Kayla, who had joyfully shared their pregnancy journey since April, were on the cusp of welcoming their first child, a baby girl they had already named Sterling Sol.
The joy of impending parenthood had intertwined with the intensity of the postseason. Kayla, in her third trimester, had been a fixture at Dodger Stadium, her presence a beacon of normalcy amid the chaos of October baseball. The couple’s social media brimmed with anticipation—ultrasound glimpses, nursery preparations, and tender updates that captured the universal thrill of new life. Sterling’s name, evoking strength and serenity, seemed a perfect prelude to the family’s future. But on October 26, in the shadow of Game 2’s drama, tragedy struck. Sterling passed away, leaving Vesia and Kayla to navigate an unimaginable void. The Dodgers, respecting their privacy, kept details close, omitting Vesia from the World Series roster entirely to shield him from any pressure to return. “We wanted him to focus on his family,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts later reflected in a post-series press conference, his voice steady but eyes betraying the depth of the loss. Roberts, a father himself, added, “Heartbreaking doesn’t even begin to cover it. Alex is family, and we’re here for whatever he needs.”
As the series unfolded, the baseball world rallied in subtle, poignant ways that spoke volumes about the sport’s unspoken code of brotherhood. Starting in Game 3—the day after Sterling’s passing—Dodgers relievers began inscribing Vesia’s jersey number, 51, on their caps with Sharpie, a small but visible tribute worn into battle under the Dodger Stadium lights. The gesture caught fire when the Blue Jays, their opponents in a series that tested every ounce of resilience, followed suit from Game 6 onward. Relievers from both bullpens, rivals on the field, united in ink and intention. “For these guys to recognize Alex and what he and Kay have gone through, it’s heartbreaking is not even a good enough descriptor,” Roberts said, his words echoing through the media scrum after the Dodgers’ Game 7 clincher. “But for them to acknowledge that, it just speaks to how much respect and love they have for one another.” The image of those marked caps, captured in slow-motion replays and fan photos, became a symbol of solidarity, a quiet rebellion against the game’s relentless pace.
Vesia and Kayla chose to share their story on November 7, breaking their silence with an Instagram post that laid bare their grief in raw, unfiltered prose. Accompanied by a black-and-white photo of tiny fingers intertwined with theirs, the caption read: “Our little angel we love you forever & you’re with us always. Our beautiful daughter went to heaven Sunday October 26th. There are no words to describe the pain we’re going through but we hold her in our hearts and cherish every second we had with her.” The words landed like a collective exhale, confirming what many had feared during the series’ emotional undercurrent. They extended gratitude to the Dodgers organization for their “understanding and support,” crediting their “baseball family” for making the unbearable slightly less solitary. “Thank you Dodger Nation, Blue Jays organization and all baseball fans for your love and support,” the post continued. “We have seen ALL your messages, comments and posts. It’s brought us so much comfort.” A special nod went to the medical staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where Kayla had been under care: “Lastly, we’d like to thank Cedars Sinai and all the medical staff who helped Kayla and Sterling. Every person we came across was truly so incredible.”
The outpouring was immediate and overwhelming. Teammates like Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts flooded the comments with hearts and prayers, while wives across the Dodgers’ circle— including Chelsea Freeman—shared stories amplifying the family’s plea for privacy and healing. The MLB Players Association issued a statement: “The MLBPA sends its love and support to Alex and Kayla Vesia at this difficult time.” Fans, too, transformed the post into a digital vigil, with thousands of replies weaving a tapestry of shared sorrow. One commenter wrote, “Sterling’s light will shine through her daddy’s every pitch,” capturing the sentiment that rippled from Los Angeles to living rooms nationwide. Yet amid this chorus, one voice cut through with particular resonance: that of Jonathan Owens.
Owens, the 30-year-old safety for the Chicago Bears, has carved his own path in the NFL since marrying Simone Biles in a lavish 2023 ceremony that blended athletic prowess with fairy-tale romance. As Biles’ steadfast partner, he has often been the one in her spotlight, cheering from the stands in custom jerseys emblazoned with her name. But on this day, Owens flipped the script, extending his empathy across sports lines to a fellow athlete grappling with paternal loss. In a direct message shared via Instagram Stories—timestamped mere minutes after the Vesias’ post—Owens wrote, “Alex, Kayla—my heart breaks for you both. Losing a child is a pain no parent should ever face, but know that Sterling’s memory will fuel your strength every day. Sending all our love and prayers from the Biles-Owens family. You’re not alone in this.” The message, simple yet searing, was screenshotted and circulated widely, igniting shares on X and Facebook where users marveled at its timeliness and tenderness. Owens, a father figure through his bond with Biles’ blended family dynamics, drew from a well of personal understanding, his words landing as a lifeline in the storm.
What makes this gesture from Owens so compelling lies in its authenticity—a rare glimpse into how elite athletes, often insulated by fame, lean on one another when the armor cracks. Simone Biles, ever the pillar of resilience after her own public battles with mental health and family estrangement, amplified her husband’s outreach on her platform, reposting with a single blue heart emoji that spoke volumes. Biles, who has spoken openly about the pressures of parenthood in interviews, added her own layer to the tribute: “Grief like this changes you, but it also reveals the village that holds you up. Alex and Kayla, we’re wrapping you in light.” Her words, drawn from a 2024 Vogue profile where she discussed vulnerability as a superpower, underscored the couple’s shared ethos of turning pain into purpose. Owens’ action, confirmed by Vesia in a brief follow-up comment—”Thank you, brother. Means more than you know”—fostered a cross-sport kinship that fans couldn’t ignore, prompting discussions on everything from athlete mental health to the blurred lines between competition and compassion.
This story transcends the diamond and the gridiron, inviting us to ponder the invisible threads that connect us all. In a season where the Dodgers defied odds to repeat as champions, Vesia’s absence was a stark reminder that some victories demand sacrifice beyond stats. As the team renewed Vesia’s contract for 2026 at $3.55 million just days after the announcement, signaling their long-term faith, the pitcher himself hinted at a return fueled by remembrance. “Sterling’s with me out there,” he told reporters post-announcement, his voice steady for the first time in weeks. Owens’ condolence, in turn, exemplifies how one small act can amplify healing, turning personal tragedy into communal strength. For Vesia and Kayla, the road ahead winds through memorials and milestones, but with a network of support—from Dodger blue to Bears orange—they step forward not alone.
In the end, Sterling Sol Vesia’s brief light illuminates more than a family’s love; it spotlights the enduring spirit of those who play the game. As baseball heals and football marches on, this moment lingers, a testament to empathy’s quiet power. What if every loss, no matter how shattering, forges unbreakable bonds? In the Vesias’ story, we find not just sorrow, but a subtle spark of hope—that even in the deepest shadows, champions rise together.
