We’ll never know how many games Jose Fernandez would have won, or how many post season games or all-star games he would have enjoyed. Perhaps he would have wound up in Cooperstown or had another appointment with an orthopedic surgeon conducting another Tommy John surgery.
All we know for sure is God gave him some natural ability, which he did not take for granted. He was becoming one of the game’s dominating pitchers and enjoying it all the while.
Fernandez was just 24 years old when he and two others were killed in a boating accident early Sunday morning. His entire career and his life were in front of him.
Many who knew him are sharing their grief via the news media and social media. Many gifted writers are telling his story and how they feel about it.
I’m just an everyday guy who loves sports and players who make me enjoy watching whatever game is being played. It’s called “playing the game the right way” which translates into athletes who set great examples for young people.
We lost one of those on Sunday and I feel bad enough to want to publicly commiserate with those who feel bad about it, too. I am fortunate that @saintpetersblog provides such an opportunity to try to make some sense out of this.
It is hard to imagine witnessing anyone enjoying the simple act of playing the game of baseball as did Jose Fernandez. One did not need to be a fan of the Miami Marlins to see that.
He showed three things while on the mound. One was his enthusiasm for the game and another was the sheer joy of playing the game.
This guy could bring those two to work with him while displaying the competitiveness of a winner. That is sheer Pete Rose-esque.
When television cameras would pan toward the Miami dugout on days he was not pitching, one would often see Fernandez either with a smile on his face or engaging teammates as they laughed together.
“When I think about Jose, I see such a little boy,” said Marlins’ Manager Don Mattingly. “The way he played there was just joy with him.”
Don’t we need more athletes like that?
Time Magazine’s Sean Gregory spoke for so many sports fans when he said “we love athletes who love their craft.”
Even fans of opposing teams could not help but have good vibes toward him. There are plenty of professional athletes who make us shake our head. There are precious few that makes fans of opposing teams nod their heads in admiration.
Jose Fernandez was at the top of the latter list.
Many know of his story of defecting from Cuba at age 15 and winding up in Tampa, where he helped Alonso High School win the 2011 Class 6A State Championship.
Just two years later he was the National League Rookie of the Year. Even after his first Tommy John surgery in 2014, he came back strong. The sky was the limit.
Now, people of faith will look toward the limitless sky when thinking of this treasure of both an athlete and a teammate.
This is one of those incomprehensible tragedies. He died on the same day another transplanted Floridian, golfing legend Arnold Palmer, passed away.
Palmer lived 87 years, where he had the chance to employ his talents for decades to win dozens of tournaments, including majors. Over the coming days, those who admired him will celebrate his life and accomplishments with a smile on their face.
The biggest sadness of all is that Jose Fernandez did not have the opportunity to be remembered that way. Right now, we only remember that he was scheduled to pitch tonight at Marlins Park against New York.
He won’t be on the mound, but will be a dominating presence in both clubhouses and both dugouts. Sadly, that’s the best we can do for him.
