The Legacy of Jose Fernandez’s Final Game

It's a game that defined one of Fernandez's best performances as a member of Miami during his four-year career with the team. Fernandez retired 21 straight batters. 

Barry Bonds, who was the hitting coach at the time, loved being around Fernandez and always supported him. Their relationship was always fun to watch on the TV screen. When Fernandez finished the night, one of the people smiling in the dugout was Bonds.

"He's telling me how I don't have a complete game, and I can never pass a six or a seven," Hernandez said. "I really tried today to throw more, maybe, but man, just lucky, happy. I got lucky today, and we came out on top today. There are things he told me about how to throw to the hitters, and everybody's putting in a little bit of work, and at this point in the season we all know what it takes, and we're trying to get there."

Fernandez stayed healthy throughout the 2016 season after having a season-ending Tommy John surgery in 2014. Without that injury, he would have accumulated more wins and had more success. 

Sadly, five days later, Fernandez was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Miami Beach, Florida. His death sent shockwaves throughout baseball. At the time, the Marlins were not close to clinching a playoff spot, but they were in the hunt for the wild card. The team had a lot of talent, and his death changed the organization's direction.

Fernandez, who was 24, and Giancarlo Stanton were the leaders and best players on the team. His impact on the Marlins franchise was massive. It was a loss that took them years to recover from. Fernandez posted great numbers pitching at home. He went 29-2 with a 1.49 ERA in 42 starts.

He finished his career as a two-time All-Star and 2013 NL Rookie of the Year.