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Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez dies in boating accident

By Dave Stevenson

Jun 26, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) pitches during the third inning Chicago Cubs against the at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) pitches during the third inning Chicago Cubs against the at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez has tragically died in a boating accident. 

According to Miami talk show host Andy Slater, Jose Fernandez has died in a boating accident. Ken Rosenthal is the first national writer to confirm this. Fernandez was just 24 years old.

It is being reported that Fernandez died along with two others.

More on the accident from USA Today:

"A Coast Guard crew left the Miami station for a law enforcement patrol when it found the 33-foot boat overturned on a jetty around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, said Chief Nyxolyno Cangemi.Cangemi confirmed that Fernandez was among three deceased. He did not have details on the other boaters killed in the accident."

The road to the MLB was not an easy one for Fernandez. He was jailed three times after three unsuccessful attempts to defect from Cuba. In 2007, he was finally able to make it out of the country along with his mother and sister. He enrolled in high school in Tampa, Flordia before being drafted by the Florida Marlins as the 14th overall selection in the 2011 MLB Draft.

Fernandez would go on to take the league by storm as a rookie in 2013. An All-Star in his first season, Fernandez finished the year with a 12-6 record and a 2.19 ERA. He took home National League Rookie of the Year honors and finished third in the voting for the Cy Young Award.

As of this posting, the Marlins have yet to release a statement on his death, but understandably, they’re processing this information.The team has already canceled its game for today against the Atlanta Braves.

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Fernandez had a 2.56 career ERA with 38 wins and 17 losses in 76 starts. He fought back from a Tommy John surgery to become arguably the best young pitcher in baseball. He had 589 strikeouts in 471 1/3 innings pitched during his career. The 2013 NL Rookie of the Year will be dearly missed.

We’ll have more updates on this story as they become available. Our thoughts go out to Jose’s family, friends and teammates.

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