Pirates, Hurdle mourn loss of ‘wonderful’ Fernandez

PITTSBURGH — The Pirates joined the rest of the baseball world Sunday in mourning the tragic loss of Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, one of the game’s brightest young stars and most infectiously energetic personalities.

Fernandez died early Sunday in a boating accident in Miami Beach. He was 24.

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The news hit home inside the Pirates’ clubhouse, where players absorbed the news and watched the reaction unfold on television. Fernandez was an immensely talented pitcher, posting a career 2.58 ERA with 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings, but he will be remembered by his peers for the constant joy he displayed on the mound and in the dugout.

The Pirates planned a moment of silence to remember Fernandez before Sunday’s series finale against the Nationals at PNC Park. Manager Clint Hurdle offered a touching, poignant response when asked about Fernandez’s legacy.

“It’s just sad. It’s so horribly sad on so many different levels that there’ll be no more of that, there’ll be no more of him, there’ll be no more of that emotion on the mound, that skill-set, that human being, that young man with such a gift, such a great smile,” Hurdle said. “I’ve been trying to live that life for a while now. I wasn’t always in that place. …

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