Some things are bigger than baseball.
As the Los Angeles Dodgers have been without top reliever Alex Vesia in this World Series, the rest of their bullpen has shown their support for the left-hander by having his No. 51 embroidered on the side of their hats.
As the series shifted back to Toronto for Game 6 on Friday, Blue Jays relievers joined in on the tribute by having No. 51 embroidered on their caps as well.
Each of Louis Varland, Mason Fluharty, Seranthony Domínguez and Chris Bassitt pitched in the game wearing the new hats.
Before Game 7, Los Angeles outfielder Kiké Hernández was asked about the gesture, saying that he didn’t notice until he struck out in the ninth inning against Bassitt.
“For those guys to do that, it’s incredible. They’re trying to win a World Series, but they understand that life is bigger than baseball, and baseball’s just a game,” he said. “For them to do that with the stakes — where we were at with the stakes, hats off to them, and I want them to know that we appreciate ’em. Regardless of what happens tonight, we appreciate what they did.”
“It’s everything,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts added.
“I didn’t learn that until after the game last night. “I think it really speaks to the brotherhood of athletes, Major League Baseball players, that they’ll all say that baseball is what we do, but it’s not who we are.”
