United States
A life in pictures: the José Fernández family album (1992-2016)
The Miami Marlins pitcher lived life to the full, from childhood in Cuba to Major League stardom in Miami, as seen in these photos provided to Univision by his family for the documentary about his life 'JDF16.' Scenes from his baby and early teen years in Santa Clara, Cuba, high school in Tampa, fishing in Miami and visiting family in Cuba.
José Delfin Fernández with his mother, Maritza in Santa Clara, Cuba. 1992. He was born Aug 1 and weighed 10 and half pounds. It was not an easy birth, his mother says. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
Courtesy of the Fernandez family
José Delfin, Santa Clara, 1992. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision
"Comelon!" His mother says he had a large appetite from an early age. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
José Delfin developed his famous winning smile early on. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
José Delfin in a Florida Marlins baseball cap. A few years after this photo was taken the team changed its name to the Miami Marlins and signed José Fernandez for $2 million. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
José Delfin Fernández loved the water.
José Delfin with his adoring grandmother Olga. She was passionate about baseball and prcaticed with him. After José left Cuba in 2008 she stayed behind. In 2013 she was granted a visa to visit Miami and from then on never missed a game he pitched during his brief career. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
José Delfin Fernández liked to cut a figure on and off the mound, dress sharp with well groomed hair. He signed letters as a teen, "Delfy La Figura."
José Delfin with his mother in Santa Clara, Cuba where he was already a national team player from the age of nine. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
High School champion. José Delfin won two state titles at Braulio Alonso High in Tampa, 2009 and 2011. Courtesy of the FHSAA/Univision.
José' Delfin with Pete Toledo one of his coaches at Alonso High School in Tampa. Courtesy of Pete Toledo.
Jose (kneeling) with the 2011 State Champions, Tampa's Alonso High. The team with coach Landy Faedo (far right).
José' Delfin with his ex-wife Alejandra Baleato in Tampa. They were together for four years before he joined the Major Leagues. “He was the most romantic boyfriend I ever had, he was a very sweet boy,” she said tearfully. “My parents adored him. He won everyone's hearts.” Courtesy of Alejandra Baleato/Univision
José Delfin loved to go back to Cuba to visit family and friends in Santa Clara. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
José Delfin had a passion for cock fighting which is legal in Cuba. Friends say he always won. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
José Delfin with his cousin Yordy (right) and grandmother Olga (seconf left) at Hananabilla Lake, one of his favorites spots in Cuba. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
José Delfin with grandmother Olga during one of his trips back to Cuba. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
José Delfin with family attorney and close friend Ralph Fernandez. They became friends after the attorney helped restore José's eligibility to play baseball in his senior year at Alonso High in Tampa. He has represented the family pro bono ever since. Courtesy of Ralph Fernández/Univision.
José Delfin visiting the 2506 Bay of Pigs Veterans Brigade headquarters in Miami. Courtesy of Ralph Fernández/Univision.
'Tommy John' surgery on his right pitching elbow was one of the lowest moments in his career, his mother recalls. José was worried he'd never be able to compete again at the top level. But after strenuous conditioning he came back stronger than ever. Courtesy of the Fernández family.
José Delfin recovering from reconstructive 'Tommy John' surgery in 2014 on his pitching elbow. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
Boating in Biscayne Bay becam,e therapy for José Delfin after his underwent surgery in 2015 on his pitching elbow, which kept him out of the game for a year. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
He loved to fish, though his mother says she had to bait his hooks to protecct his pitching fingers. Courtesy of the Fernández family.
José's biggest fans; his mother Maritza (left) and grandmother Olga (right) in the stands at Marlins Park. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
Olga, Ralph and Maritza celebrating in the stands at Marlins Park. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is planning to build a 10-foot tall statue of José at Marlins Park in memory of the pitcher. Loria (left) with Maritza, Ralph Fernández and José. Courtesy of Ralph Fernández/Univision.
In the dugout with grandmother Olga, a passionate baseball fan who used to practice with José when he was a child. Courtesy of the Fernández family/Univision.
Penélope Fernández. The night José Fernández died at night, he shared a secret with his girlfriend Maria Arias. “He told me that he had made a baseball glove for Penélope to play catch with her,” Arias said. “He was supposed to keep it a surprise but he couldn’t hold it anymore.” David Maris/Univision.
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