A’s in shock over Jose Fernandez’s death; ‘To be gone so soon is so sad’
Manager Bob Melvin said that all of baseball would have heavy hearts on Sunday after the death of Marlins star Jose Fernandez, 24, in a boating accident.
“The impact he had on his teammates and fans, you could feel it, you could sense it,” Melvin said.
First baseman Yonder Alonso, who is from Miami, had gotten to know Fernandez will over the years at offseason events and considered him a good friend.
Alonso said that Fernandez’s public persona, always smiling, laughing, was who he was off the field, too.
“How he was on the mound was a reflection of him,” Alonso said.
A very talkative guy, he would come into the room and you’d know he was in the room.
No matter what, he would talk to you about hitting, because he thought he was the best hitter, and he talk to you about pitching, because he thought he was the best pitcher.
Alonso, as a Cuban-American from Miami, felt a special bond with Fernandez.
Fernandez’s loss, Alonso said, Is really big for baseball.
People don’t realize, his charisma, his energy.
Zach Neal was teammates with Fernandez in the minor leaguers, and the reliever said, He was an awesome guy.
When I played with him, he was so young, he was just starting to learn professional baseball, but he was so good, I remember telling my dad, ‘This guy is the real deal.‘
Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Before the home finale, the A’s acknowleged Harold Miller and Max Jacinto, who have worked at the Coliseum since its first event, the Raiders’ game on Sept. 18, 1966.
Jacinto is a ticket taker at C Gate, while Miller works in the press dining lounge.