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Before Jose Fernandez joined the Miami Marlins in 2011, Fernandez was a Cuban with a dream to get to the United States of America.
At the young age of 15, Fernandez was able to successfully defect to the United States. It took four attempts and the three failed attempts ended in separate Cuban prison sentences. On the fourth attempt, someone fell overboard the ship Fernandez was on. Without any question or hesitation, Fernandez jumped into the ocean to save the person. That person turned out to be his mother.
Fernandez valued his family more than anything in the world. That was apparent during his reunion with his grandmother in 2013. In the video, his grandmother, Oga, and Fernandez interlock; it was their first time seeing each other since he left Cuba.
As well, Fernandez and his girlfriend, Carla Mendoza, were expecting their first child together. Just five days before passing away, Fernandez posted a picture of his girlfriend with the caption, “I’m so glad you came into my life. I’m ready for where this journey is gonna take us together. #familyfirst”.
On and off the field, Fernandez meant a lot to the city of Miami.
Fernandez was ‘Mr. 305’ and was an important figure in the community of Miami. He represented the ‘American Dream’ that we preach. He represented the freedom that so many Cubans who have attempted to defect work for and would tell Marlins president, David Samson, “You were born into freedom, you don’t understand.”
One phrase Fernandez always uttered to media members was, “I’m lucky.” Fernandez really was lucky and he knew it.
Impact off the Field
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His impact to Miami was something special. On the same corner of Marlins Park that Fernandez handed out turkey dinners to the less fortunate, fans placed pictures, flowers, balloons, anything to honor a man so many looked up to.
Fernandez was also heavily involved in a childhood cancer fund, titled “Live Like Betty”. Often times, Fernandez would attend events and benefits with the fund and his love for the cause was genuine, just like him.
As well, Fernandez had a large impact to the game of baseball and to so many players, both Marlins and players around the league. After his death was announced, many players, baseball writers and teams took to Twitter to send their condolences to Fernandez’s family or to share memories.
Among those was one of his teammates, Dee Gordon, who was visually upset while paying respect to a memorial at Marlins Park. Later attending the same memorial was outfielder Christian Yelich who looked just as upset as Gordon.
Among those visually upset were two fellow Cubans, Yoenis Cespedes (Mets) and Yasiel Puig (Dodgers), who both hung jerseys up in the dugout in their honor. Both took meticulous care in hanging up the jerseys, placing multiple pieces of tape to the jerseys.
David Ortiz, a close friend of Fernandez, also paid respects to the former pitcher, requesting that the pregame ceremony held for him be cancelled by the Tampa Bay Rays. It was and all the gifts given to Ortiz were given in private. During the moment of silence held at the stadium, Ortiz was in tears holding nothing back.
In a statement released by Miami Marlins’ owner Jeffrey Loria, Loria said,
Sadly, the brightest lights are often the ones that extinguish the fastest. Jose left us far too soon, but his memory will endure in all of us. At this difficult time, our prayers are with his mother, grandmother, family and friends.
In a press conference, where all other 24 Miami Marlins players attended, manager Don Mattingly added tearfully, “I see such a little boy in the way he played. Such joy. When you watch kids play Little League, that’s what I think about.”
Former Marlin and teammate of Fernandez, Steve Cishek, also added to the death of Fernandez. He said, “He just could bring a smile to everyone’s face,”
Impact on the Field
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On the mound, Fernandez was an ace. He threw upper 90s on a fastball and both of his offspeed pitches would hit mid -80s. He would throw heat and strike people out often.
Out of all the batters he faced, Fernandez struck out 31.2% of the opposing batters he faced. No pitcher in history has struck out as many people. Fernandez also recorded the best FIP of any modern day pitcher. Second and third on that list were Clayton Kershaw and Sandy Koufax, respectively. Among right-handed pitchers who started their career after World War II, Fernandez’s lifetime 150 ERA+ ranks first.
Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez also said that Fernandez was a better talent than himself. That in itself shows how impactful Fernandez was on the field for the Miami Marlins.
In his final start, he had his best start. Fernandez, in front of family, went 8 innings deep, allowing 3 hits and striking out 12. He walked none in the game and got the win.
As Cal Ripken said in his farewell speech to baseball, “One question I’ve been repeatedly asked these past few weeks is, ‘How do I want to be remembered?’ My answer has been simple: to be remembered at all is pretty special.”
In baseball, Fernandez’s impact on and off the mound will be remembered. His smile touched so many and for once, all other 29 teams are wishing they could face Fernandez once more.
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