Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez killed in boating accident
Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed Sunday morning in a boating accident, the team announced. He was 24.
The Marlins have canceled Sunday’s game against the Braves but will play Monday’s home game against the Mets, team president David Samson said Sunday.
Fernandez, one of the best young players in baseball, was one of three people killed in the crash. The boat crashed into rocks and was found capsized by search and rescue teams around 3 a.m. The three victims were found dead when authorities arrived on the scene. Two victims were under the boat and one was on the rocks. None of them were wearing life vests.
Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be a factor in the crash.
The identities of the other victims have not been released but the other two men are believed to be friends of Fernandez.
The boat had previously traveled in the area of the jetty and several Marlins players had previously been on the boat.
“The Miami Marlins organization is devastated by the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez,” the team said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time.”
The Miami-Dade Fire Department released a photo of the crash scene.
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MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark both released statements on Fernandez’s passing.
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Fernandez was an All-Star as a 20-year-old rookie in 2013 and named National League Rookie of the Year, after jumping straight to the majors from High-A. He missed most of the 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery but returned to form in 2015. He was named to his second All-Star team this season.
When Fernandez defected from Cuba by boat as a teenager, his mother fell overboard and Fernandez jumped in to save her. She grabbed onto his back and Fernandez paddled back to the boat with one arm.
Fernandez announced last week that he and his girlfriend were expecting a child.
