Baseball Community Mourns Death Of Marlins Pitcher Jose Fernandez
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Members of the baseball community have come together to mourn the death of Miami Marlins pitches Jose Fernandez, who was found dead following a boat crash off Miami Beach early Sunday morning.
Fernandez and two other people died when their 32-foot vessel slammed into a jetty off Miami Beach, authorities said.
Within hours after the news broke, Marlins players gathered at the ballpark to grieve together.
"A lot of words were said -- meaningful words and emotion and prayer," team president David Samson said. "Jose is a member of this family for all time."
Samson spoke at a news conference while surrounded by every player on the Marlins, except their ace. The players wore team jerseys -- black ones. Pitcher David Phelps stared at the floor and shook his head, while outfielder Christian Yelich took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Their eyes were red.
Manager Don Mattingly and president of baseball operations Michael Hill flanked Samson and unsuccessfully fought back tears.
"When I think about Josie, it's going to be thinking about a little kid," said Mattingly, pausing repeatedly to compose himself. "I see such a little boy in him ... the way he played. ... Kids play Little League, that's the joy Jose played with."
PHOTOS: Sports World Remembers Jose Fernandez
In a statement, the Marlins said they are "devastated by the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time."
Th owner of the Miami Marlins says he is feeling the "deepest sorrow" over the death of Jose Fernandez.
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria released a statement early Sunday afternoon saying he, his family and the entire organization is mourning Fernandez's death.
Loria says that "sadly, the brightest lights are often the ones that extinguish the fastest."
"All I can do is scream in disbelief," said Hall of Famer Tony Perez, a Marlins executive and native of Cuba. "Jose won the love of all. I feel as if I had lost a son."
On Sunday, members of the baseball community offered their condolences in the wake of Fernandez' death.
The New York Yankees released a statement Sunday offering their condolences:
"On behalf of Hal Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees, we offer our deepest condolences to Jose Fernandez's family and loved ones, and to the entire Miami Marlins organization he so joyfully and proudly represented," the organization said.
"All of Baseball is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Miami Marlins pitcher José Fernández. He was one of our game's great young stars who made a dramatic impact on and off the field since his debut in 2013," Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. said in a statement Sunday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, the Miami Marlins organization and all of the people he touched in his life."
There were pregame tributes and moments of silence for Fernandez across the majors. The Mets' Yoenis Cespedes, who also defected from Cuba, hung Fernandez's jersey in the team's dugout, CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported.
The New York Mets, in the thick of a playoff chase, will begin a series in Miami on Monday. Fernandez's debut game in 2013 was against the Mets, and he was scheduled to start against them Monday.
"When the first pitch left his hand, the first thought is, "Oh, wow, this is something special,"' said Mets manager Terry Collins, who picked Fernandez for this year's All-Star Game. "This was not only one of the greatest pitchers in the modern game but one of the finest young men you'd ever meet, who played the game with passion and fun and enjoyed being out there."
"It was a lot of fun being able to watch him pitch; the heart he carried out there on the mound. It's unfortunate to hear," said Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard. "I feel like he could have had some serious Hall of Fame numbers, but unfortunately, we're not going to be able to witness that."
Fernandez's 76th and final game was Tuesday, when he pitched eight shutout innings, struck out 12 and beat the Washington Nationals 1-0.
"He told one of his teammates that the last game he pitched, against the Nationals, was the best game he ever pitched," Prado said, his voice breaking. "Now he's gone, and it's hard."
The Marlins' game Sunday at home against the Atlanta Braves has been cancelled.
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