Marlins to hold public memorial services for Jose Fernandez

Joe Rodgers

Marlins to hold public memorial services for Jose Fernandez image

A public memorial for late Marlins ace Jose Fernandez will be held Wednesday in Miami, beginning at Marlins Park then moving to a local church for a public viewing.

Honoring Fernandez's No. 16 — a jersey the Marlins plan to retire — a funeral motorcade will depart from Marlins Park at 2:16 p.m. ET. Guests attending St. Brendan's Catholic Church will have the opportunity to pay their respects from 5-11 p.m.

According to MLB.com, a private mass for family, Marlins players, coaches and front office personnel will be held on Thursday before the team travels to Washington D.C to being their final regular-season series against the Nationals. 

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Fernandez was one of three people killed when the boat in which they were riding struck a jetty and overturned. Their bodies were discovered by the Coast Guard around 3:15 a.m. Sunday.

A player who embodied the culture of South Florida, Fernandez was a fan favorite, not only in Miami but across MLB, as evidenced by the number of tributes and tears shed across baseball.

Fernandez defected to the U.S. from Cuba in 2007 with his mother and sister after three previous unsuccessful attempts to leave the island nation. Each failed effort resulted in a brief prison term in Cuba. On their final attempt, a 15-year-old Fernandez jumped into the water to save his mother from drowning.

SPECTOR: Jose brought much-needed joy to baseball

Fernandez was a first-round draft pick of the Marlins in 2011, National League Rookie of the Year in 2013 and a two-time All-Star, including this season, which was the best of his four-year MLB career. He lost only twice in his career at Marlins Park, where attendance spiked on the days he pitched — "Jose Day," as they were commonly known.

The Marlins also established The JDF16 Foundation to honor the legacy of Fernández. The foundation will reflect the values that embodied Jose, his love of family and his passion for helping youth.

Joe Rodgers