Jose Fernandez, a young star MLB pitcher for the Miami Marlins, was killed in boat crash early Sunday morning (Sept. 25). He was just 24 years old.
To say that the baseball and sports world is devastated is an understatement.
Reports USA Today:
Fernandez, the 24-year-old right-hander whose vibrant personality endeared himself to fans as much as his dominant fastball, was a Cuban-born pitcher who grew up in Miami and was drafted 11th overall by the Marlins in 2011. He overcame Tommy John surgery in 2014 and returned to dominant form this season, winning 16 games, striking out 253 batters and earning an All-Star Game berth.
A Coast Guard crew left the Miami station for a law enforcement patrol when it found the 33-foot boat overturned on a jetty around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, said Chief Nyxolyno Cangemi.
Cangemi confirmed that Fernandez was among three deceased. He did not have details on the other boaters killed in the accident.
Today’s Miami Marlins vs. the Atlanta Braves game has been cancelled.
See the reactions from fellow players, stars and fans to this tragedy below and on the following pages.
Rest in power Jose Fernandez.
—
Photo: AP
