The Miami Marlins paid tribute to deceased pitcher Jose Fernandez on Monday before their game against the New York Mets, all donning Fernandez's No. 16.
Eight Marlins opened the game by surrounding the mound, with no pitcher on the field. The team shared the tribute to Fernandez on Twitter:
Fernandez died in a boating accident Sunday morning. He was 24.
Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton was in tears as he spoke to his teammates before the game, as baseball writer Molly Knight showed:
MLB Gifs also showed Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich embracing:
When the game started, Gordon provided a moment that won't soon be forgotten.
He opened his at-bat by stepping into the right-handed batter's box and imitating Fernandez's stance for the first pitch, per James Wagner of the New York Times. The second baseman then switched to his normal left side of the plate—and promptly hit his first home run of the season.
Wagner and Anthony DiComo of MLB.com described the turn of events:
After Miami defeated the Mets 7-3, the Marlins left the game ball on the mound and the entire team circled around it with their arms around each other, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal shared a photo of the moment:
Fernandez, one of baseball's brightest young stars and most charismatic characters, could become the first posthumous Cy Young Award winner.
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