Jose Fernandez’s death Sunday rocked the Major League Baseball world, and the Boston Red Sox were no exception.
The Miami Marlins ace, who died in a boating accident at the age of 24, was a friend to many around the league, including Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz and first baseman Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez was a member of the Marlins until 2012, but both of them took to Twitter to express their grief.
But even those who didn’t know Fernandez as well as Ortiz and Ramirez did were affected, and many other Red Sox players tweeted out their disbelief and condolences to Fernandez’s family.
Red Sox manager John Farrell spoke to the media about the impact Fernandez’s death has already had on baseball and his clubhouse.
“It was disbelief, tragic,” Farrell said, per the Boston Herald. “Certainly all of our thoughts and prayers go out to not only the Fernandez family, but certainly to the Marlins organization and all of the Cuban-American community in South Florida. By all accounts, even with our guys in here who know him personally, just know he was a young guy, full of life. We all know the talent that he is, so baseball has lost one heck of a young pitcher, but more importantly our thoughts are with his family at this point.
“(Some Red Sox players) know him personally. I know there was a fun moment at the All-Star Game and the comments Jose made about facing David Ortiz. I know Hanley knows him. It’s heartfelt. It’s hit many clubhouses around baseball, but our guys in particular. Especially when you get a high number of guys that are 24, 25 years old. This is their peer, this is their opponent, this is a guy they can clearly identify with. When someone is taken so quickly, it’s a tragic moment. Our condolences go out to all directly involved.”
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
