The news of Jose Fernandez’s death shook the sports world on Sunday morning, but nowhere was it more crushing than at Marlins Park, where fans and teammates gathered to remember a talent taken far too soon.
With Sunday’s game canceled, the Marlins gathered anyway. They met as a team, talked about Fernandez together, trying to process the loss together and grief together. Then, they stood united for a press conference. Players wore their jerseys, surrounding a table where manager Don Mattingly sat along with execs David Samson, Michael Hill and veteran player Martin Prado.
They were moved to tears as they talked about Fernandez — their 24-year-old ace, who was found dead early Sunday morning after a boating accident that killed two other people. Mattingly was particularly emotional, breaking down in tears while talking about Fernandez.
Marlins Manager Don Mattingly tearfully remembers the life and legacy of José Fernández. pic.twitter.com/BeuYgxHPHV— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 25, 2016
“When I think about Jose, I see such a little boy,” Mattingly said at one point. “The way he played, there was just joy with him.”
At another point: “When he pitched … you just see that little kid that you see when you watch kids play Little League or something like that. That’s the joy that Jose played with.”
The Marlins painted Fernandez’s No. 16 on the pitcher’s mound Sunday morning and players such as Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich were seen kneeling in front of it.
The mound at Marlins Park pic.twitter.com/X4yp7CE7QE— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) September 25, 2016
This photo of Dee Gordon by the mound today at Marlins Park says it all. pic.twitter.com/vJVCNKsqOT— Cards Nation (@CardsNation13) September 25, 2016
Outside the stadium, fans had started to gather, bringing flowers and wearing No. 16 jerseys as a way to remembering the young pitcher.
#Marlins fans have made the entrance to Marlins Park a makeshift memorial for Jose Fernandez pic.twitter.com/XVP26SYLou— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) September 25, 2016
Here's is the video clip of #Marlins fans leaving flowers for Jose Fernandez and shedding tears in his name pic.twitter.com/9eLu52WvBG— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) September 25, 2016
Family members crying in front of Jose Fernandez's makeshift memorial at Marlins Park. Not a dry eye around here. So much sadness pic.twitter.com/D5iq344XSx— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) September 25, 2016
Though only 24, Fernandez had already established himself as one of the best arms in all of MLB. This season, his 16-8 record, 2.86 ERA and 253 strikeouts (second in baseball) made him one of the candidates for NL Cy Young. He won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2013.
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