Why Do Dodgers Have 51 on Their Hats

The Dodgers pitchers are wearing the number 51 on their hats as a heartfelt tribute to their teammate Alex Vesia, a left-handed relief pitcher who is away from the team due to an undisclosed family matter. This touching gesture has been especially visible during the World Series, where every member of the Dodgers' bullpen has donned caps featuring the small embroidery of Vesia's uniform number beside the World Series logo.

Alex Vesia's Absence

Alex Vesia, who wears uniform number 51, was expected to be a key part of the Dodgers' relief pitching roster during the World Series. However, he stepped away from the team to be with his wife, Kayla, as they navigate a deeply personal family situation. The Dodgers organization released a statement expressing their full support: "The entire Dodgers organization has our thoughts with the Vesia family, and we will provide an update at a later date".

The Bullpen's Tribute

The idea to honor Vesia with the number 51 on their caps came from within the team itself. According to Dodgers journalist David Vassegh, pitcher Blake Treinen was instrumental in suggesting this tribute. The gesture represents the bullpen's way of keeping Vesia with them in spirit, even when he cannot physically be present during the most important games of the season.

For the past several games of the World Series, all Dodgers relievers have worn the caps bearing Vesia's number:

  • The number appears as a small piece of embroidery tucked beside the World Series logo
  • Every pitcher in the bullpen has participated in this tribute
  • The caps were first worn during Game 3, when the Dodgers' bullpen delivered an exceptional performance

A Classy Response from the Blue Jays

What made this story even more touching was when the Toronto Blue Jays joined in honoring Vesia. Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt was spotted with "51" written on the side of his hat during the series, surprising even Dodgers players who noticed the gesture. Dodgers player Enrique Hernandez initially wondered if Bassitt had played with Vesia previously, only to discover that the entire Blue Jays team was showing solidarity.

Baseball Beyond the Game

The Dodgers' manager and players have emphasized that baseball takes a back seat to what the Vesia family is experiencing. The team's statement acknowledged that "baseball is completely secondary to what they're going through". The relief corps has rallied in Vesia's absence, with their best performance coming during Game 3—the first night they wore the tribute caps—when they held the Blue Jays to just one run across 13 1/3 innings.

TLDR: The Dodgers pitchers wear "51" on their hats to honor teammate Alex Vesia, who is away from the team handling a family matter during the World Series. The touching tribute was suggested by pitcher Blake Treinen and has been adopted by the entire bullpen, with the Blue Jays also joining in to show support. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.