News of the tragic death of Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who died in a boating accident in Miami on Sunday, is unbearably sad. Fernandez, who defected from Cuba, was beloved not only for his incredible talent, but for his unbridled love for the game. His journey from Cuba to the United States was extraordinary; we recommend you spend some time with this excellent Grantland feature.
Of course, Major League Baseball has been mourning Fernandez on social media this morning, and the Dodgers were no exception. Yasiel Puig, a fellow Cuban and close friend to Fernandez, was especially emotional.
L.A. Times Dodger reporter Dylan Hernandez also tweeted that Puig would be dedicating today's game to Fernandez.
Dodger pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who's starting today, offered some insight:
We feel the same as outfielder Justin Turner:
And here's a great clip of Fernandez whiffing at a ridiculous Kenta Maeda pitch. His reaction is priceless.
As it happens, today is also Vin Scully's last game at Dodger Stadium, and it's times like these that we sure are glad that he'll be behind the mic; we imagine he'll have some touching words to say about Fernandez during the broadcast, which starts at 1 p.m. this afternoon.
