A decade later, the Cuban sensation’s infectious joy and electric fastball still resonate, honoring a pitcher who transformed a franchise through sheer passion and undeniable talent.
Friday marks 10 years since the tragic passing of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez. It still feels like yesterday when I saw him in the Marlins clubhouse enjoying his job and life.
I remember Fernandez not for how he died but for how he lived on the diamond and how one happy person can impact the mood of everyone around him.
12 years ago I fulfilled a childhood dream of covering my favorite team. I’ve been a Marlins fan since 1997 and I was fortunate enough to cover the team in 2014, a year of moderate expectations after a slew of low-profile free agent signings.
Fernandez was coming off a Rookie of the Year season that established him as one of the best pitchers in baseball. His infectious love of not just baseball but also life, could illuminate the darkest environment. To this day, he was the only Marlins player to attract a full crowd at loanDepot park since it opened in 2012.
Having grown up with a Cuban mother, I was already aware of Fernandez’s story. He defected from Cuba after the previous three failed attempts resulted in prison time. He became a high school pitching sensation in Tampa and was drafted in the first round by the Marlins. Then he became an MLB sensation and National League Rookie of the Year.
Then Marlins manager Mike Redmond once said the beauty of his ace was “He wants it every single time he gets the ball.” A trait not uncommon among the franchise greats, including Sandy Alcantara today.
Fernandez became only the second pitcher in baseball history to win his Opening Day start as the reigning Rookie of the Year, when he mowed down the Colorado Rockies lineup in 2014. Not to be confused with the lowly Rockies of the present time, the 2014 Colorado lineup featured names like Carlos Gonzalez, Nolan Arenado, Justin Morneau, and Troy Tulowitzki.
There were many factors to point to the new and improved version of him after seeing that outing. Experience was one major factor; his improved physical shape stemming from a newfound passion for cycling was another.
One factor that topped them all, was how his love of family, especially the love he had for his mother and grandmother, fueled him.
Fernandez escaped Cuba with his mother but his grandmother was left behind. He broke down in tears when Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria surprised him by flying her over to Miami. 2014 was special to him because he was able to pitch every home game with both his mother and grandmother in attendance.
Unfortunately, Fernandez’ 2014 season was cut short in May because of Tommy John surgery. But he returned later in 2015 and was at his absolute best in 2016.
Fernandez was an All-Star and a Cy Young contender in 2016. With a 2.86 ERA and 253 strikeouts, he was the anchor of a young Marlins team led by Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, and managed by Don Mattingly. This was supposed to be the team that made the playoffs.
Fernandez’s last start resulted in the Marlins winning over Washington and improving to 76-75. The rest is unfortunate history.
