MIAMI (WSVN) - A funeral procession and public viewing will take place in Miami, Wednesday afternoon, for Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez.
Despite the rainy weather, Tuesday, fans left flowers, memorabilia and messages at a memorial for Fernandez at Marlins Park, as everyone prepared themselves for the emotional farewell.
That day, sentimental moments captured in a Facebook video also surfaced, only adding to the sadness. The video showed the moment Jose Fernandez and his girlfriend, Maria Arias, learned their new baby will be a girl.
Later that night, St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz, a childhood friend of Fernandez, had a big moment similar to what was seen Monday in Miami from the Marlins’ Dee Gordon.
Diaz hit the first grand slam of his career. “I think today we all came here and played hard, you know, enjoyed the game,” said Diaz. “I think it’s the legacy for all MLB players, come here every day and enjoy the life and play baseball.”
Diaz grew up with Jose in Santa Clara, Cuba. He had just returned to the Cardinals after spending the weekend with the Fernandez family in Miami.
Also on Tuesday night, the Tampa Bay Lightning paused to remember Fernandez ahead of a preseason NHL game. The arena is near a high school once attended by Fernandez.
Back in Miami, fans lined up to sign a wall outside Marlins Park in memory of the star pitcher, leaving messages such as “You taught me passion,” and “Miami is missing an angel.”
Fernandez’s family could be seen leaving their home in Southwest Miami-Dade, Tuesday night, to make final arrangements for the legendary Marlins’ pitcher’s funeral. Cameras captured the moment flowers sent by former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade were delivered to the family.
Teammates of the late pitcher said, Tuesday, they were invited on the boat the night of the tragedy. Many of them said they were very close to going out on the boat with Fernandez, but something told them not to.
“He always offer for me to go out with him, and I feel like it was so hard for me to say no,” said Marlins infielder Miguel Rojas. “It’s not that I don’t want to be with him in that moment, but it’s because I have my family here, and I have a baby at home.”
Marlins center fielder Marcell Ozuna said Fernandez was very inclusive. “Anybody and everybody,” he said, “couple guys on the team.”
The Marlins played an emotional game against the New York Mets, Monday night. Fernandez’s close friend and teammate, Dee Gordon hit a home run and ran the bases with tears in his eyes. “That’s the best moment of my life, to hit a home run for him,” said Marlins second baseman, Dee Gordon. “I tried to impersonate his batting stance as close as possible. I just hope he’s happy, and I hope he’s good because, man, we love him so much.”
After Monday’s game, Marlins players saluted their teammate on the pitcher’s mound. “We’re reliving yesterday and understanding how important it was for us to — not only us — but everyone that followed and everyone that cares,” said Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton.
“I didn’t think a team could be tighter than we were before this,” Stanton said. “I was definitely wrong.”
Fernandez and two other men died when their 32-foot vessel slammed into a jetty off Miami Beach, authorities said.
The capsized boat was found shortly after 3 a.m.
In a strange twist, 7News obtained a photo of a bag that washed ashore after the crash, carrying baseballs autographed by Fernandez.
The memories of Fernandez also stretched all the way to Washington, D.C., on the Senate floor. “And you ask yourself, ‘Why did this young man, who had been with us for such a brief moment, lead to such an outpouring of grief from a community,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. “Anywhere you go in Miami, in the last 48 hours, it’s all anyone can talk about.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigation into that crash continues. They said they have never pulled over Fernandez’s boat in the past.
The procession will begin at Marlins Park, Wednesday, at 2:16 p.m.
Fans are asked to gather at Marlins Park West Plaza, where the procession will leave the park and end at Saint Brendan Catholic Church, located at 8727 SW 32nd St., on the same day, at 4 p.m. The service is scheduled to continue until midnight.
Fernandez’s family is asking that fans donate to the Miami Foundation. If you would like to donate, go to: https://miamifoundation.org/
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