On Monday evening, less than 48 hours after Marlins pitcher José Fernández was killed in a boating accident, a bag containing four baseballs signed by José Fernández washed ashore in Miami Beach. Fernández’s checkbook was also found.
The bag was given to a lifeguard in Miami Beach, approximately a mile from where the boat was found upside down on Sunday morning.
“A bag was turned in to the lifeguard at 24th Street, and it appeared to be the bag of one of the deceased,” Ocean Rescue division chief Vincent Canosa told local TV station WSVN-TV.
José Fernández, 24, along with Emilio Macias, 27, and Eduardo Rivero, 25, were killed when their 32ft boat, which was registered to Fernández, slammed into a rock jetty that extends off the southern tip of Miami Beach at about 3.15am on Sunday. The death of Fernández, a two-time all-star and one of the brightest prospects in the game, has stunned baseball.
The Marlins played the Mets on Monday night in the first game since Fernández’s death. The atmosphere at Marlins Park was deeply subdued, and tears were shed. Dee Gordon hit a home run in the game’s first at-bat, and was consoled by emotional team-mates as he came into home plate.
The players decided to wear Fernández’s No16 jersey in remembrance of their young pitcher, and his number was also stenciled on the mound. Most of the Marlins’ hitters decided to forgo walk-up music.
A solo trumpet rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame was played during the pre-game ceremony. Following the national anthem, New York manager Terry Collins led his Mets across the field to share hugs with the Marlins, and fans briefly chanted José Fernández’s name.
Fernández, whose girlfriend is expecting their first child, was originally scheduled to pitch Sunday before his start was moved back a day.
Plans for a public funeral had not been finalized, but it’s expected to take place on Thursday, the Marlins’ final off day of the season.
