Marlins’ Jose Fernandez killed in Miami boating accident

The death of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez has rocked the world of Major League Baseball. On Sunday morning, he was left stunned by the news.

“Baseball means nothing in light of that”, said Grilli. “He brought a lot of passion”.

Said infielder Wilmer Flores: “A lot of energy. He was extremely influential down there”.

Tons of athletes took to social media after news of his death broke.

Before Sunday’s game against the Phillies, the Mets hung a Jose Fernandez Mets jersey in their Citi Field dugout.

James McCann: “Many prayers for the family and friends of Jose Fernandez”.

Jose Fernandez escaped from Cuba by boat on his fourth try as a teenager, and when his mother fell into the Yucatan Channel during the journey, he jumped in and pulled her out.

“For anybody that leaves Cuba, it’s not easy to leave your family behind and come over here”, said Royals catching coach Pedro Grifol, who translated for Morales. The Braves, along with several other teams, quickly shared their condolences with the Marlins.

Orioles reliever Mychal Givens played against Fernandez in high school.

The right-hander was drafted in the first round by the Marlins in 2011 and made his major league debut in April 2013.

He was 16-8 with a 2.86 ERA this year in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for parts of 2014 and 2015.

“It’s gonna be hard around baseball”, Girardi said.

“As soon as he reached the clubhouse he called me and he said that it’s true”, Espada said. “Maybe one of the best arms that was ever going to play in the game”.

This year, Fernandez also made his second All-Star Game, where he faced Hosmer at Petco Park.

City of Miami Fire-Rescue workers were seen carrying bodies, draped and on stretchers, at the Coast Guard station after sunrise.

“We hung out in San Diego this year”, Hosmer said. Watched him develop when we signed him, the way he developed into the great pitcher he is. I gave him the nickname Niño because he was just a young boy Amongst men, yet those men could barely compete with him.

The game Monday will be played as scheduled, the Marlins said.

The 24-year-old was one of three men, who were not wearing life vests, killed in the accident, according to police.

That’s truly a somber, sad feeling emanating from the Dolphins crowd. Morales reflected on the death of another native Cuban.

In New York, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he checked on infielder Donovan Solano and special assistant to the GM Joe Espada – both former members of the Marlins organization. “It’s a tough day for baseball”. “One day he’s here, the next day he’s not”.