Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez died early Sunday morning in a boating accident off the Miami Harbor. His sudden death shocked the entire sports world and reminded us that life is precious. Sunday was a time of reflection and remembrance for Jose. He was more than just a baseball player, his attitude and personality brought life to the game. He was a role model for young kids, showing that with persistence and hard work, you can achieve anything.

Jose D. Fernandez was born on July 31, 1992, in Santa Clara, a city on the northern coast of Cuba. From an early age, he had no real interest in baseball. Fernandez says if it wasn’t for his Uncle influencing him to play, he would not have pursued a career in the sport. Ramon Jimenez, Jose’s stepdad, defected from Cuba in 2005 and settled in Tampa. Naturally, the Fernandez family wanted to follow. After three unsuccessful attempts that ended in prison terms, Jose, his mother, and his sister got to the mexican shore in 2007. Unfortunately, Jose’s grandmother Olga, who Jose considers the love of his life, stayed in Cuba. During the escape, his mother fell overboard. He jumped into the turbulent waters and saved his mother’s life. Then in 2008, the family moved to Tampa.

At Braulio Alonso High School in Tampa, Jose was a star pitcher on the baseball team. The sport was natural to him, as he was trained by a family friend by the name of Orlando Chinea. During his sophomore and senior seasons, he was part of the Florida 6A State championship teams. However before his senior season in 2011, the Florida high School Athletic Association ruled that Fernandez was eligible, as he entered the ninth grade in Cuba and thus had sacrificed his eligibility. Jose won his appeal and was able to finish his senior season a state champion. His finished his high school career with a record of 13-1, with a earned run average of 2.35 and 134 strikeouts.

The Miami Marlins selected Fernandez with the 14th overall selection on the 2011 MLB Draft. After 2 years in the minor leagues, he was called up for his rookie season in 2013. He was ranked the best prospect in the Marlins system and the 5th ranked prospect in all of baseball. Jose made his debut on April 7 against the New York Mets. After multiple starts, Jose was gaining popularity, even Joe Maddon (the now manager of the Chicago Cubs) said that Jose was “the best young pitcher I have ever seen at that age.”

During his three year career, Jose was selected for two All-Star Games, won the Sporting News Rookie of the Year, and the National League Rookie of the year in 2013. He came in third place the the Cy Young Award voting, falling to Adam Wainwright and Clayton Kershaw. His last MLB start was on September 20, 2016. He pitched a fantastic game, striking out 12 against the division leading Washington Nationals.

On the early morning of September 25, 2016 at approximately 3 am., Jose Fernandez was found dead. At 24, Jose was still very young and destined for greatness. He finished his career boasting a record of 38-17, with an earned run average of 2.58 and 589 strikeouts. He was one of the best young prospects in the game. Jose brought smiles to people’s faces when he played. Teammates describe him as being the most intense player while still having fun. He was much more than a baseball player, he was a son and a soon to be father. He showed us that you can get through anything that life throws at you, no matter your background.