White Sox mourn loss of superstar Fernandez

CLEVELAND — Todd Frazier faced Jose Fernandez eight times when the White Sox third baseman played for the Reds. Frazier still fondly remembers their first informal encounter the day after their first on-field encounter.

“He was out in the outfield throwing the next day. I was like, ‘Dog, you don’t throw me any fastballs.’ He was like, ‘Why would I throw you fastballs?'” Frazier said. “And we just started laughing.”

Frazier was one of the many players around Major League Baseball, let alone in the White Sox clubhouse Sunday morning, sharing their memories and trying to find the right words to describe the immense influence of the 24-year-old Fernandez, who tragically died Sunday in a boating accident. Fernandez’s passion for the game and for life stood out above the great talent that made him one of the game’s best starting pitchers.

“You could come up and talk to him,” Frazier said. “He had an infectious smile and just had a love for the game that I hope every ballplayer could have.”

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“I …

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