When they first heard that Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed early Sunday morning in a boating accident, many Braves players and coaches were in their team bus, headed to the ballpark to play the Marlins. They couldn’t believe the news. Two hours later, some still struggled to comprehend it.
The game was cancelled, but that felt entirely insignificant Sunday in the face of the tragic death of one of baseball’s brightest young stars, a 24-year-old Cuban defector with an ebullient personality, a beloved and revered figure in Miami. Fernandez on Tuesday posted a picture on Instagram of his girlfriend, Carl
a Mendoza, pregnant with their child.
Fernandez was one of three men killed when the boat in which he was a passenger crashed into a rock jetty off Miami Beach at around 3 a.m., said a Florida Wildlife Commission official. Alcohol or drugs weren’t believed to be involved.
I’m at a loss for words,” said Braves slugger Freddie Freeman, who had some memorable matchups against Fernandez during the pitcher’s four seasons with the Marlins. “Utter disbelief, shock. Hoping to wake up from this nightmare. One of the best people I’ve ever met. Unbelievable competitor. It was a treat for me to be able to get to know him over the last few years.”
The Braves lost to the Marlins 6-4 in a Saturday night game at Marlins Park and were scheduled to play the finale of a four-game series Sunday afternoon. Fernandez had originally been scheduled to start the game, but the Marlins had announced Saturday his
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