Jose Fernandez is back and better than ever. On one side of the field, that is.
The Miami Marlins right-hander made his much-anticipated return Thursday, taking the mound against the San Francisco Giants in his first start since May 9, 2014.
It didn’t take long for the 22-year-old to remind everyone why he’s one of the most exciting young players in the game — in more ways than one.
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Yes, that’s Fernandez at the plate, crushing a 396-foot bomb off Giants pitcher Matt Cain, who also was making his first start of the season.
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It took the Cuban phenom a little longer to find his groove on the mound, as he allowed two runs in the first inning. But make no mistake: He still can bring the heat.
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Fernandez probably will have to shake off some rust after missing more than a year recovering from Tommy John surgery, but that’s a small price to pay for having such an electrifying player back between the lines.
Thumbnail photo via Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports Images