Miami Marlins ace pitcher Jose Fernandez died early Sunday (Sep 25) in a boating accident in Miami Beach, the Major League Baseball team confirmed.
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Fernandez, 24, was killed in a boating accident near Miami Beach early Sunday.
Debris from the boat was spotted and reported to the Coast Guard shortly after 3 a.m., said Megan Dean, a Coast Guard commander in Miami. “They did do an initial search and they found three victims – two on top of the water, one underneath the boat and they had unfortunately passed away”.
“All I can do is scream in disbelief”, said Hall of Famer Tony Perez, a Marlins executive and native of Cuba. “I’m sorry I’m getting goosebumps right now, it’s really hitting home and it’s disgusting”.
Fernandez was on a 32-foot vessel that had a “severe impact” with a jetty, said FWC’s Lorenzo Veloz.
The boat was owned by a friend of Fernandez.
“We hung out in San Diego this year”, Hosmer said. “It’s bad. There’s no other word for it, it’s terrible, it’s bad, it’s bad”.
Veloz said alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash and no illicit drugs were found at the scene. None of the three people who were aboard the boat were wearing life vests. Several people appeared visibly shaken.
Jul 11, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; National League pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) of the Miami Marlins during media day for the MLB All Star Game at the Grand Hyatt. “His story is representative of a story of hope, and of love and of faith, and no one will ever let that story die”.
The game between the Marlins and the Atlanta Braves was cancelled.
Manager Don Mattingly and president of baseball operations Michael Hill flanked Samson and unsuccessfully fought back tears. He appeared too emotionally shaken to continue.
Fernandez came to America as a teenager, gaining fame for his story of defecting from Cuba with his mother (who he saved after she fell off a boat during one attempt) and other family members looking for a better life.
In his four short Major League Baseball seasons, Fernandez won the rookie of the year award as well receiving two all-star selections.
The death of Jose Fernandez was much more than the loss of one of the brightest young stars in baseball.
“There’s a place I kind of go to watch film of us, and usually I turn the sound off, but sometimes I get the announcers’ call and I hear the words “must win, ‘” Showalter said. There was just joy with him when he played”, Mattingly said.
Marcus Stroman, a pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, tweeted: “Sick to my stomach”. I’d go out there and try to take good at-bats because he was one of the best pitchers. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this hard time”.
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Fernandez was 24 years old. It’s a similar journey shared by many of his fellow countryman, who took the time honor him, including New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and Los Angeles Dodgers’ outfielder Yasiel Puig.
