Sad news for the sport of Baseball and in general for the sports industry after Miami Marlins Pitcher Jose Fernandez died today in a tragic boating accident. Fernandez, 24, was one of three victims that lost their lives when the 32-foot boat they were traveling in crashed against rocks that formed part of a jetty near Miami Beach, apparently speed was a factor and Fernandez died as a result of the severe impact. Spokesman Lorenzo Veloz of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a news conference Sunday that bodies where found at around 3:30 a.m. this Sunday.

Fernandez was a native from Cuba who after three tries (one of them ended with him in prison), successfully defected to the United States in 2008 in his fourth try; he was drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2011. He started with the Marlins in 2013 but he lost most of the 2014 season due because he underwent Tommy John surgery (replacement of an arm’s torn ligament). Fernandez was named National League Rookie of the Year in 2013. He became a citizen of the United States in 2015.

Just Tuesday Fernandez had posted a photo of his pregnant girlfriend on Instagram. Wednesday he started against Washington Nationals striking out 12 in a 1-0 victory in what would be the last game of his life.

Fernandez had been having his best Major League season ever this year, with a 16-8 record and a 2.86 earned run average, averaging 12.49 strikeouts in his nine starts so far.

The Marlins vs. Atlanta game that was scheduled for this afternoon has been cancelled.