On Sunday, September 25, Miami Marlins starting pitcher, Jose Fernandez, was tragically killed in a boating accident in Florida. After a fight with his girlfriend, who is pregnant with their child, Fernandez and a few friends went out on a boat ride to cool down. The boat was travelling at high speeds and struck a jetty. Fernandez died as a result of the impact of the crash.
Any fan of baseball can tell you not only about Jose Fernandez’s amazing baseball skills, but his vibrant personality, and his love for his family. Let’s take a look at some of Jose’s best baseball moments:
Jose caught a line drive hit by Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki who immediately asked, “did you catch that?” With a big smile, Jose responded, “Yeah, yeah I did.”
Jose even got excited when his teammates succeed. As you can see, Giancarlo Stanton hit a homerun and we got to see what can be considered Jose’s best celebration.
Jose was also a family man, and was very close with his grandmother. His Abuela knows a lot about baseball, and was Jose’s #1 fan. Abuela got to surprise Jose at one of his interviews, and it was very emotional for not only them, but for everyone who watched the interview.
This is another reason he was so appealing to fans. Not only was he great on the field, but he brought about a sense of importance of family, which is relatable for fans.
On Monday, September 26, 2016, in a game against the New York Mets, the Miami Marlins honored their beloved teammate. There was a pregame ceremony where all the players stood around the pitcher’s mound, appropriately painted with “16”, Jose’s number, as a somber version of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” was played.
Dee Gordon was up first for the Marlins, he took the first pitch using Jose’s helmet. He switched back to his own helmet, and hit a homerun on the third pitch. He rounded the bases with tears streaming down his face and hugged everyone in the dugout afterwards, all with tears in their eyes.
This has touched more than just the Miami Marlins. Numerous players from around the league, including Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, took to social media to mourn the loss of the great player and amazing man. New York Mets catcher Travis D’Arnaud told media after the game that he had tears in his eyes after watching Dee Gordon round the bases after his homerun. Numerous teams in the MLB hung up jerseys in their dugouts with “Fernandez” and the number 16 on the back.
This tragic event shows that baseball is more than just a game. The bond that these players share is irreplaceable and their lives will never be the same. This is a game of love, passion, and emotion. Even if it’s not baseball, or even anything sports related, I hope everyone finds something they are passionate about the way Jose Fernandez was passionate about baseball.