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Jose Fernandez honored at Marlins Park (Video)

By Cody Williams

Jun 5, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) smiles during a game against the New York Mets at Marlins Park. The Marlins won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 5, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) smiles during a game against the New York Mets at Marlins Park. The Marlins won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Marlins Park honored Jose Fernandez immediately following his tragic passing on the video boards outside the stadium, creating a heart-wrenching scene

Incomprehensible. Even after hearing the news from multiple sources for an hour, the news of Jose Fernandez’s tragic death at 24 years old still doesn’t feel real. How could someone so young, with such a joy for life and baseball, be taken so soon? That’s the question ringing in the minds of sports fans, but obviously more so within the Miami Marlins and with their fans.

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After the news was sadly confirmed, the Marlins cancelled their scheduled game at Marlins Park against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Instead, they posted a simple tribute outside the stadium. On the video boards sat Fernandez’s name and number—a minimalist tribute hitting home.

With this tribute and the news still spreading throughout the community, fans also gathered at the scene. It was a surreal, somber moment outside the park as fans paid respects with the organization:

All you need to do to see how much Jose Fernandez meant to Marlins fans is quickly search through Twitter. However, even that doesn’t encapsulate all of the emotions flowing in this moment. Those can only be seen. And Marlins season ticket holder John Bradford showed all of it outside of the stadium:

To this community, you can hardly quantify what Jose Fernandez meant. With such a strong Cuban presence in Miami, he was a hero. But he was just as much a hero to Marlins fans without similar heritage. It was his love for the game of baseball and for those fans that truly shined and made him a star. And yes, he was on his way to being the best pitcher in baseball.

Rest in peace, Jose.

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