The Miami Marlins number one pitcher, José Fernández, was found dead early Sunday morning, the victim of a boating accident. Fernandez, who was on his way to a possible Cy Young award this season, was just 24 years old.
The Coast Guard arrived at the scene at 3:30 AM Sunday morning, to find the 32-foot boat capsized on the jetty off Miami Beach. Fernández, along with two other unnamed victims, were found dead at the scene. None of the boat passengers were found wearing life-vests at the scene. The 24-year old is believed to have died from trauma experienced when the boat crashed, a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The main factor of the accident is said to be speed, as no drugs or alcohol were found at the scene of the crash.
Fernández, a Cuban native, attempted to defect his home country three times before becoming successful in 2008. He was drafted by the Marlins in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He made his first career start in 2013 for the Fish, before undergoing season ending Tommy John surgery later that season. Upon returning, he became one of the most feared pitchers in the game, boasting a career 2.58 ERA with 589 strikeouts before his untimely death.
In wake of the tragic news, the Miami Marlins canceled their closing game today against the Atlanta Braves. Fernandez was supposed to have the start, but had it pushed until Monday. The press conference for the tragedy was attended by all Marlins players, coaching staff, and owners. Several players, as well as general manager Don Mattingly, were emotionally distraught during the conference.
Second baseman Dee Gordon was pictured standing by the mound of Marlins Park, which now boasts Fernandez’s number 16, kneeling and praying for the loss of his teammate. His death has shocked the baseball world, garnering several tweets and other social media posts from players from all over the league. Marlins star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton noted that he nicknamed Fernández “Niño” in a heartfelt Instagram post.
Currently on his farewell tour, David Ortiz requested that his ceremony at Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, be canceled to honor his late friend. Ortiz also expressed his deep friendship with Fernandez, referring to him as his brother. Fellow Cubans Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Aroldis Chapman of the Chicago Cubs have expressed their condolences for their friend.
All MLB teams held a moment of silence to remember a player who was in love with the game of baseball as much as his fans were with him. José Fernández is survived by his girlfriend, Carla Mendoza, who recently announced via Instagram that the couple were expecting their first child.
