On Sunday Morning, I, like so many of you, woke up to the worst news possible. I read an update that said Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez died in a boating accident. I had to read it over several times before it sunk in. I became upset and depressed about a man that I had never met or seen play in person. Fernandez played in a small media market and yet still had a profound effect on so many people around the world. The reason this tragedy affected so many is because of the person Jose Fernandez was. On and off the field Jose Fernandez loved baseball and loved life and taught us all to enjoy every day to the fullest.

While Jose Fernandez’s achievements on the field are impressive and maybe even Hall of Fame worthy, ( if his success continued for the remainder of his career) I want to focus on what made us fall in with number 16, his intensity and all that made him the person he was.

The Jose Fernandez story that we appreciated starts with a young man living in oppressed Cuba.  Fernandez was arrested three times trying to defect from Cuba before being successful on his fourth try, achieving his goal of being free and having a chance to pitch in the major leagues. On one of those trips a woman fell from the crowded boat and was in danger of dying, but Jose jumped in to save the woman’s life. That woman was Fernandez’s mother. This event exemplified who Jose was as a person: He was unselfish and cared more about the well being of others than himself.

When Jose Fernandez took the mound he was tenacious, fearless, and fun to watch and that’s what we liked so much about him. He is the reason people love sports. We like people who battle and give their teams all they have to offer and that’s what Fernandez did. Fernandez passion was unmatched, he was fired up when he pitched and even more telling he was always on the railing cheering on his teammates. He was filled with positive energy and his smile and attitude were infectious.

It’s unfortunate now that when you think of Jose Fernandez you think of a man who died too young and in the most tragic way because Fernandez should always be remembered as someone whose love for baseball and for life was unmatched. He should be known as a joyful person who positively affected the lives of so many. The one lesson that Jose Fernandez taught us all is to live life to the fullest and do everything you do with heart and passion. Rest Easy Jose, your love for life will never be forgotten.