Former Blue Jay attends celebration of life honouring All-Star pitcher
Photo credit: https://www.sportsnet.ca
It was a sombre, yet festive mood in West Palm Beach on Sunday.
The occasion? A memorial event and celebration of life honouring late Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez.
It has been nearly ten years since the Cuban phenom passed away in a boating accident in the early morning hours of September 20, 2016.
It was event that shook baseball and the sporting world, as Fernandez, already a two-time All-Star at the age of 24, was the Marlins past, present, and future.
Several MLB stars as well as legends of the Cuban baseball attended the event. Among those to make an appearance was Fernandez' countryman and former infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays Aledmys Diaz.
Memorial event held today in West Palm Beach in honor of Cuban pitcher José Fernández, attended by his mother Maritza and MLB players Aroldis Chapman, Jorge Soler, and Aledmys Diaz.
Numerous Cuban baseball players, both active and retired, were also present.
Numerous Cuban baseball players, both active and retired, were also present.
The Blue Jays have always had an affinity for Cuban players and have several youngsters from the island nation currently in their system.
Not only was Diaz from the same country - and city - as Fernandez, but they lived on the same street as children and grew up playing baseball together.
In fact, it was Diaz's father and uncle who encouraged the young pitcher and brought him with them to the ballpark.
Years later, in 2016, they were All-Stars together, Fernandez with the Marlins and Diaz - who was in his rookie season - with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Diaz played a single season with Toronto in 2018, after they acquired him from St. Louis during the 2017 offseason.
He began the year as Toronto's everyday shorstop and also saw time at third base after Troy Tulowitzki's return from injury.
While he had some success, hitting 18 home runs, he was traded that offseason to the Houston Astros for pitcher Trent Thornton.
Diaz not the only major leaguer in attendance
Diaz was not the only major leaguer in attendance. Fellow Cuban ballplayers Aroldis Chapman and Jotge Soler were also on hand.
Fernandez was a two-time All-Star and won the National League Rookie of the Year in 2013. He was just 24 years old.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 19|90 ANSWERS Former Blue Jay attends celebration of life honouring All-Star pitcher Do you remember Aledmys Diaz? | ||
| Yes | 53 | 58.9 % |
| No | 37 | 41.1 % |
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