MIAMI _ Jose Fernandez, the Miami Marlins' ace pitcher and one of the brightest young stars in baseball, was found dead early Sunday morning after a boating accident, the team and Coast Guard officials have confirmed.
He was 24.
Sunday's Marlins home game against the Atlanta Braves has been canceled.
"The Miami Marlins organization is devastated by the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez," the team said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time."
The U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release that three people, including Fernandez, were killed in the crash, off Government Cut.
"A boat crew from Coast Guard Station Miami was heading out on a law enforcement patrol at approximately 3:30 a.m. Sunday when they passed a jetty along Government Cut and discovered an overturned 33-foot center console boat on the jetty with three deceased aboard," the Coast Guard news release said.
The names of the other two people who died were being withheld until next of kin of notified, the Coast Guard said.
Lorenzo Veloz, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said FWC were called to the crash at 3:15 a.m.
"It was a severe impact," Veloz said.
The other two victims were male, neither a professional athlete, Veloz said.
"They found a boat that was up against the jetties," Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Todd Garofalo told Miami's WSVN.
"They did do an initial search and they found three victims _ two on top of the water, one underneath the boat and they had unfortunately passed away."
Fernandez fled his native Cuba in 2008 and became a high school star in Tampa, Fla. He was the Marlins' first-round pick (14th overall) in 2011.
He became a two-time All-Star and the 2013 National League rookie of the year. Through his four-year career he posted a 38-17 record and 2.58 ERA.
He was also the Marlins' biggest draw, with attendance and television ratings consistently spiking on the days he pitched.
Eduardo Perez, a former major leaguer who does color commentary for Marlins games on Fox Sports Florida, reacted to the news on ESPN.
"All he wanted to do was have fun and be on that mound and play the game _ not work the game, but play the game. And he played it beautifully," Perez said.
"He's going to be greatly, greatly missed."
