Indians react to tragic loss of Fernandez

CLEVELAND — A group of players stood in front of a clubhouse television, others watching from their seats at their lockers, taking in the unfathomable news of Jose Fernandez’s death. One of the baseball’s rising stars, and one of the faces of the game, was gone.

Indians pitcher Danny Salazar, who posted a heartfelt message on social media, told reporters he was too upset to discuss the tragic development. The team was still learning the details, and coming to terms with the reality that Fernandez, 24, had passed away in a boating accident in Miami early Sunday morning.

“It’s awful news,” Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said. “He was one of the better guys in the entire league, not only as a pitcher. I didn’t really know him off the field, but I always heard good things about him. You just feel sorry for his family and friends. You feel sorry for their organization. And you feel sorry for the game of baseball, because it lost one of the better pitchers today.”

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Indians manager Terry Francona had not heard the news until after he arrived at Progressive Field on Sunday morning to prepare for the day’s game against the White Sox. He overheard a few people talking about it, and he quickly looked into what had happened.

The news sickened Francona.

“We get so consumed with baseball,” Francona said. “On a personal level, man, it just kind …

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