Sunday’s game vs. Atlanta was canceled, but Monday’s home game vs. the Mets, a game Fernandez was scheduled to start, will go on as scheduled with the team believing that’s the proper way to honor their fallen teammate.
Advertisement
The Marlins ace also had a devastating slider. This is not only one of the greatest pitchers in the modern game, but one of the finest young men you’d ever meet.
Chief Petty Officer Nyxolyno Cangemi told The Associated Press that a Coast Guard patrol boat spotted an overturned boat at approximately 3:30 a.m. on a jetty near Government Cut.
The destroyed boat was eventually towed away.
According to the Coast Guard, the boat crash happened off Miami Beach early Sunday.
“All of baseball is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Miami Marlins pitcher José Fernández”, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement”. They were taken to the medical examiner’s office.
The capsized boat has not yet been turned upright, “but of what we saw, the top of the boat – which is still under water – appears to be severely damaged”, Veloz said, adding that the vessel is a “total loss”.
The names of the other two victims have not yet been released, pending family notification. He said speed appeared to be a factor in the crash, and that there was no evidence alcohol was involved. None of the three were wearing life jackets, Veloz said.
“This was a great loss”, Veloz said. It had previously been stopped for safety inspections and knew the area well, he said.
A two-time All-Star, Fernandez was drafted in 2011 and rose to the Marlins’ starting pitching staff by 2013.
He had recently become a United States citizen, and announced just last week his girlfriend was pregnant.
Not being a Marlins fan, Fernandez is not someone I thought about a lot beyond having an awareness of him as a fantastic young pitcher who was doing wonderful things that are seldom done by pitchers of any age.
David Ortiz asked the Rays to cancel his pregame retirement ceremony today.
“I don’t have the words to describe the pain I feel”, Ortiz said.
Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom noted “the very tragic accident” again proves “you never know how long you get to play this game”.
“When I think about Josie, it’s going to be thinking about a little kid”, said Mattingly, pausing repeatedly to compose himself. “I can’t imagine what he’s going through”.
Tigers reserve third baseman Casey McGehee played with Fernandez in Miami in 2014 and 2015.
Advertisement
The Marlins were right in the thick of the wild card chase until start player Giancarlo Stanton went down with an injury but the arm of Hernandez was one of the reasons they still managed to stay close to their goal this year.
