Jose Fernandez expected a child before his death (Photo)

Sep 9, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) celebrates their 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez (16) celebrates their 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was a father-to-be before his untimely death.

Tragic news struck the clubhouse of the Miami Marlins this morning as news surfaced that starting pitcher Jose Fernandez was found dead following a boating accident.

At the ripe age of 24, Fernandez was looking more towards life as a father than the 2016 MLB postseason. Just five days ago, Fernandez shared a photo of his pregnant girlfriend on Instagram to let the world know that the couple was expecting:

It’s an eerie feeling that sweeps over us all when death is at the door step. The haunting feeling numbs us, but at the same time, it’s a reminder of how precious life is. At a last minute’s notification, a loved one can be taken away from us like a thief in the night.

The Miami Marlins organization and countless friends and family members of Jose Fernandez have the task of mourning one of the brightest and youngest men. A native of Cuba, Fernandez was a very attractive prospect, but it was his bubbly personality and ear-to-ear grin that made him a loved and admired man.

During his interview on MLB Network’s Intentional Talk, Fernandez outlined his affection for his teammates and all-things-family. In his first season with the MLB in 2013, Fernandez didn’t hesitate in stating that he lived with the greatest female figures of his youth, his mother and grandmother. The best part of living with them at twenty-one? Homemade meals featuring rice, beans and pork with fried plantains.

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Aside from all the metrics, Fernandez was a beast on the mound, but had the heart of lion off the diamond. He believed in the institution of family and that his grandmother and mother were the cornerstones of his life – not baseball. It’s not just about losing one of the MLB’s top pitchers since 2013, but rather about a mother losing her son and a wife losing a husband.

Next: Jose Fernandez Killed in a Boating Accident

It’s not news anyone would want to wake up to on a Sunday morning, let alone any time of day during the week. The death of Fernandez leaves gaps in a lot of hearts today. Many baseball enthusiasts, inactive and active players alike and members of the media will remember Jose Fernandez as not just a pitching prodigy, but a well-to-do young man who placed family over all of life’s matters.