The Cuban born Fernandez defected to this country at the age of 15 after trying and failing to do so thrice before. On the third occasion he unsuccessfully tried to defect, he was jailed for several months. Marlins broadcaster Rich Waltz told the MLB Network that during his harrowing trip to Florida he discovered that someone had fallen out of the boat and jumped in. As it turned out, his mother had fallen in and he came to her rescue. It makes the circumstances of his death all the more cruel.
Fernandez was a first round draft pick by the Marlins in 2011. Two years later, Fernandez would become the NL Rookie of the Year with a 12-6 record and a 2.19 ERA with 187 strikeouts in 172 2/3 innings along with an NL All-Star selection. Tommy John surgery would curtail his 2014 & 2015 seasons. But Fernandez rebounded this season. In 29 starts with the Marlins this season, Fernandez went 16-8 with a 2.86 ERA. He struck out an astounding 253 batters in only 182 1/3 innings pitched. In addition to his second NL All-Star selection, he remains a strong candidate for NL Cy Young balloting. Under the circumstances, he could win it. If so he would become the first MLB player to win a major award posthumously.
Fernandez was criticized at times for being exuberant. I remember when Brian McCann took exception to Fernandez when he hit a home run against the Braves in his rookie season. Astonishingly, then Marlins manager Mike Redmond publicly lambasted Fernandez who was forced to apologize.
If Fernandez was sometimes guilty of exuberance it must be remembered that he was getting his first test of freedom. Waltz told the MLB Network about how Fernandez would remind him he was "born into freedom". Things like automatic faucets and soap dispensers were a wonder to him. Fernandez became a U.S. citizen last year.
Aside from Fernandez's youth what makes his death so sad is that he fought so hard to get his freedom and the best was still yet to come. He both had a chance at a Hall of Fame career and a distinguished citizen who would have made tremendous contributions to this country away from the baseball diamond.
I don't want to diminish the fact that two other people (who have not been identified at this time) were also killed. They too had their own stories to tell. That they were friends of Jose Fernandez already says a great deal about them.
To give you an idea of Fernandez's talent, take a look at some of his pitching highlights from this season. There should have been more but we can enjoy what he gave us. R.I.P.
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