Remembering the Tremendous Life of Jose Fernandez | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

Remembering the Tremendous Life of Jose Fernandez

Looking back at the great career of the fallen MLB star, Jose Fernandez.

26
Remembering the Tremendous Life of Jose Fernandez
sportstalkflorida.com

On Sunday, Major League Baseball (MLB) lost one of its brightest young stars, Jose Fernandez. Fernandez’s death took the entire sporting world by shock, resulting in days of mourning, sadness and emotion.

But, instead of dwelling on the sad nature of Jose’s tragic death, it’s time to look back upon the great life and American dream Fernandez, 24, lived.

He would like it that way.

Fernandez’s journey began on July 31, 1992, in the small Cuban city of Santa Clara. Growing up under the communist regime of Cuba, a young Fernandez realized he had a special talent – pitching – but it would never get him anything if he didn’t bring it to the United States.

So he did.

After multiple attempts and an imprisonment, Fernandez finally escaped the island when he was 15-years-old and landed in the United States in a small town on the Texas coast. During his successful defection attempt, Fernandez miraculously saved his mother, Martiza, who fell off the boat as it was leaving Cuba.

Ecstatic to be free in the U.S., Fernandez and his mother moved to the Tampa, Fla. Area, where Jose attended Braulio Alonso High School – just like any other American teenager.

Determined to fit in, Jose quickly learned the English language, and, most importantly, showcased his talent on the pitcher’s mound.

In his sophomore and senior seasons, Fernandez lead his team to state championship victories in Florida, and became one of the nation’s top prospects after showcasing his talent in national showcases, such as Perfect Game America.

With the 14th overall pick in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the then Florida Marlins selected Fernandez, and he reached the Major Leagues little over a year later.

On April 7, 2013, Fernandez made is MLB debut against the New York Mets, the beginning to a season that saw the All-Star Fernandez pitch to a 2.19 ERA with 187 strikeouts, garnering him the National League Rookie of the Year award.

Fernandez went through his largest obstacle in the game in 2014, when he was diagnosed with a partially-torn ulna collateral ligament (UCL) on May 14, and soon underwent season-ending Tommy John Surgery.

On July 2, 2015, Jose made his return from the surgery, and finished the 2015 campaign with a 2.92 ERA with 79 strikeouts in just 11 games.

2016 was perhaps Fernandez’s best, as the right-handed pitcher was named to his second All-Star team, lead the MLB in strikeouts-per-nine-innings (12.5) and struck out a whopping 253.

Throughout his career, Fernandez was a major part of the Miami community, as he was a role model to the many Cuban-Americans living in the city wanting to pursue the American dream.

Unfortunately, it all came to an end for Jose on Sunday, Sept. 25, when he died in a catastrophic boat crash late at night.

But Fernandez shouldn’t be remembered for a horrific accident on the ocean that brought him to this country.

He should be remembered for bright young star he was.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

805
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

503
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199538
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20490
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments