MIAMI _ Michael Hill, the Marlins' president of baseball operations who knew Jose Fernandez about as long as anybody in the organization, contorted his lips in an effort to fight back tears and force out words. He could only manage so many.
"It's been a tough day obviously for everyone," Hill said Sunday afternoon at Marlins Park, speaking during the club's news conference following Fernandez's sudden death in a boating accident. "Everyone reflects on their history with Jose."
For Hill, that history included sitting at Fernandez's kitchen table in the summer of 2011, trying to convince the teenage phenom born in Cuba and living near Tampa, Fla., to sign with the Marlins after the team picked him in the first round of the MLB draft. It included, shortly after Fernandez signed, introducing Fernandez as "the newest Marlin" at the then-Pro Player Stadium. It included Fernandez's first All-Star Game, in New York three years ago when Fernandez was a 20-year-old rookie.
"I don't know if there are words to express how I feel," Hill said. "It's a tremendous loss. My heart goes out to his family."
Hill had more to say. He just couldn't get through it. Overcome with emotion, he passed the microphone and the news conference ended.
Hill was not alone, physically or emotionally. Flanked by Marlins third baseman Martin Prado on one side and Marlins president David Samson and manager Don Mattingly on the other, they were all surrounded by every member of the team _ players, coaches and other staff _ wearing black Marlins jerseys.
Reliever Mike Dunn, his eyes more teary than most, stood next to Mattingly and held a No. 16 Fernandez jersey. Giancarlo Stanton, the club's other face of the franchise, stood stoically behind Hill.
"When something like this happens, you take a look at yourself, you take a look at the people around you, and you realize that above all _ above all _ there's just love," Samson said. "And a lot of love."
Fernandez, Samson said, will not soon be forgotten.
"You see there is not one player missing right now. The entire team has stayed," Samson said. "We just want to say to his family, if they're listening, that this is not about today or tomorrow. Jose is a member of this family for all time, and a member of the city of Miami and all of South Florida, all Cuban Americans.
"His story is representative of a story of hope and of love and of faith. No one will ever let that story die."
