The Orioles are in a playoff race, but there was a solemn tone before Sunday’s game, as the sudden death of Fernandez, one of three people killed in a boating accident in Miami Beach early Sunday, resonated throughout baseball that there are things bigger than a game.
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According to multiple reports, police received a call of a possible boating accident at 3 a.m. ET.
The Commission’s Lorenzo Veloz said the boat was upside down. Reyes said two bodies were found underneath the vessel and another was found in the water on the southside of the jettys.
None of the victims was wearing a life jacket, Veloz said. No evidence of illegal drug use or alcohol was found.
“It appears they were coming at full speed when they encountered the jetty”, Reyes said.
On his final journey to Mexico to leave Cuba, Fernandez and a boat load of others defectors hit rough seas that tossed his mother into the ocean, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Jose Fernandez connected with many Marlins fans, many of them also Cuban. “We have stopped this boat before over safety concerns”, he added.
Authorities found the boat upside down after reportedly crashing into rocks, and the Marlins confirmed the bad news of Fernandez’s tragic demise with a brief statement on Sunday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this hard time”.
Within hours after the news broke, Marlins players gathered at the ballpark to grieve together. Jose was so thrilled about becoming a first-time father, and now that will never happen.
In a press conference Marlins manager Don Mattingly was brought to tears when he described his young pitcher.
“I thought I was going to die many times”, he said. When you watch kids in little league or something like that, that’s the joy that Jose played with.
“Deep in our hearts there is a lot of pain”, Miami third baseman Martin Prado said.
“Being a leader in the clubhouse, he’s got a lot of responsibility to these guys with what they’re going through”, Girardi said.
The Marlins canceled their scheduled game against the Atlanta Braves.
The right-hander went on to win an All-Star and the National League Rookie of the Year award two years later.
Fernandez posted a career record of 38-17, a 2.58 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 471 1/3 innings (76 starts).
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Known for his ebullient personality – which could occasionally rankle opponents – and a pitch repertoire that could stagger opponents with both his fastball and a devastating curve, Fernandez was the backbone of the Marlins pitching staff, posting a 2.86 earned-run average.
