(Getty)
Miami Marlins ace pitcher José Fernández has died at the age of 24 in a tragic boat crash in Miami early Sunday morning. Two others were also killed in the accident.
“The Miami Marlins organization is devastated by the tragic loss of José Fernández. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time,” the team said in a statement.
Sunday’s game between the Marlins and the Atlanta Braves has been cancelled.
Via ESPN’s report:
Chief Petty Officer Nyxolyno Cangemi told The Associated Press that a Coast Guard patrol boat spotted an overturned boat at 3:30 a.m. on a jetty near Government Cut.
The bodies were discovered a short time later. Because the boat was on a jetty, the Coast Guard notified Miami-Dade police, which turned the investigation over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Fernandez was on a 32-foot vessel that had a “severe impact” with a jetty, said Fish and Wildlife spokesman Lorenzo Veloz.
Fernández had announced on Instagram just five days ago that his girlfriend was pregnant.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKkAGyzAY68/
Who was José Fernández?
José Fernández was among the best young pitchers in baseball. He was 16-8 with a 2.86 ERA this season, and was named to his second all-star team.
He won National Rookie of the Year in 2013. In 2015 he missed the majority of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Born in Santa Clara, Cuba, Fernández defected to the United States from Cuba in 2007. Fernández had previously attempted to defect unsuccessfully three times, with each failed defection attempt resulting in a prison term. On his successful attempt, Fernández’s mother fell overboard when the boat hit turbulent waters, and he had to dive into the water to save her life.
He settled in Tampa, Florida where he attended Alonso High School before becoming a 2011 first-round pick, taken 14th overall by the Marlins.
He became a United States citizen last year.
Reaction to Fernández death:
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