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Miami Marlins to honor Jose Fernandez by wearing No. 16 jerseys

By The Sports Xchange
The Miami Marlins scoreboard displays pitcher Jose Fernandez name and uniform number at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida, September, 25 2016. The game between the Marlins and the Atlanta Braves was cancelled after Fernanedez died in a boating accident in Miami. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI
1 of 4 | The Miami Marlins scoreboard displays pitcher Jose Fernandez name and uniform number at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida, September, 25 2016. The game between the Marlins and the Atlanta Braves was cancelled after Fernanedez died in a boating accident in Miami. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo

The Miami Marlins will wear No. 16 jerseys in Monday night's game against the New York Mets at Marlins Park in honor of Jose Fernandez, who tragically died in a boating accident.

The Marlins' 24-year-old pitching ace and two of his friends were killed early Sunday morning in the accident near Miami Beach when their 32-foot boat had a "severe impact" with a jetty.

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Fernandez, Emilio Macias, 27, and Eduardo Rivero, 25, died from trauma in the crash and did not drown, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation. The boat was traveling at a significant speed when it struck rocks, authorities said. The investigation is ongoing.

Their bodies were discovered at 3:15 a.m Sunday. Marlins team officials were told of the news at 6:30 a.m. and by 10 a.m., the entire team had gathered at Marlins Park even though Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves was canceled.

"When I think about Jose," manager Don Mattingly said Sunday, "I see a little boy. The way he played, here was just joy with him. When he pitched, you just see that little kid that you see when you watch kids play Little League or something like that."

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The team has vowed to honor and support Fernandez's family through this difficult time. Last week Fernandez had posted on Instagram that his girlfriend, Carla Mendoza, is pregnant.

Fernandez twice attempted to defect from Cuba unsuccessfully and was thrown in jail on a third attempt before finally reaching the United States and attending high school in Tampa, Fla.

A two-time All-Star, Fernandez was drafted in 2011 and rose to the Marlins' starting pitching staff by 2013.

Fernandez was named National League Rookie of the Year in 2013 and was 38-17 with a 2.58 ERA in 76 career starts for the Marlins. He was 16-8 with a 2.86 ERA this season.

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