The World Series is finally here. The Toronto Blue Jays are ready to host the Los Angeles Dodgers for Game 1 on Friday night at Rogers Center. But just as the hype reached its peak, somber news from the Dodgers’ camp has reminded everyone that some things are much, much bigger than baseball.

The Los Angeles Dodgers shared that Alex Vesia, who went 4-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 68 regular-season games and 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in seven postseason appearances, is away from the team.

The team released a statement that read, “It’s with a heavy heart that we share that Alex Vesia is away from the team as he and his wife, Kayla, navigate a deeply personal family matter. The entire Dodgers organization is sending our thoughts to the Vesia family, and we will provide an update at a later date.”

Alex Vesia’s rise to prominence has been marked by grit and energy. Drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 17th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, he made his debut in 2020 before being traded to the Dodgers in 2021. Known for his fiery mound presence and uplifting clubhouse spirit, he quickly became a fan favorite in Los Angeles. While the team has asked for privacy regarding his current situation, Dodgers stars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have expressed their support, standing firmly behind Vesia and his family during this difficult time.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the roster. “We’re in the mode of trying to understand the process, the rules, a way that we could sort of try to navigate the roster,” Roberts said. “We’re going through the process of trying to backfill his spot on the roster.”

This is where the story takes a heartwarming turn.

Blue Jays fans saw the Dodgers’ announcement, and right away, one fan posted a comment. “Does this guy have a charity we could chip in to?” The fan then added, “Jays fans will step up for this guy, best wishes.” This amazing gesture is not a surprise. Blue Jays fans just showed the world what they are made of last week when their team defeated the Seattle Mariners in Game 7.

One Jays fan posted a donation receipt on Reddit that went to Seattle Children’s Hospital. The post got over 1,500 upvotes and sparked a huge trend, with around 100 Jays fans donating, and Seattle Children’s Hospital officially thanked them. Even Mariners fans donated to Toronto’s SickKids hospital, giving the story a full-circle feel.

That amazing gesture was still fresh, and now the Blue Jays faithful are turning that same empathy toward their World Series rivals.

Fans unite for the Vesia family

The amazing spirit of Blue Jays Nation spread quickly, and one fan asked, “Does Alex Vesia have a charity he supports?” While some other fans just repeated the same feeling more creatively, planning to turn the whole World Series into a good cause. As one said, “Jays fans, let’s do some pledges for Alex Vesia’s charity. Here’s what I’m going with: $27 per Vladdy home run, $5 per Jays win.”

This is a brilliant move that “gamifies” kindness. It links Toronto’s on-field success directly to helping an opponent. Every time ALCS MVP Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits a home run, the Vesia family gets support. Every time the Blue Jays win a game, a donation is made.

Soon, the rivals noticed, as one Dodgers fan said, “This is why I respect Jays Fans. As a Dodger Fan.” They knew the news about the Seattle Children’s Hospital donations, and they also knew this was not a one-time stunt. This is who the Blue Jays fans actually are. So, the praise from the Dodger faithful kept coming as another fan added, “I’m a Dodger fan… All that I have read is pure class from the Jays fans. You guys are awesome.”

And at the end, one LA fan finally said, “I keep seeing things like this and honestly, of course I want my team to win, but I am glad it’s the Bluejays we’re facing off with. Great team, great fans.” The fan still wants his team to win, but the anger and hate are gone. They are happy to play against the Blue Jays in their back-to-back World Series appearances.