From the moment he arrived in the big leagues as a hard-throwing 20-year-old with an effortless delivery and a devastating curveball , Jose Fernandez was special.
The shock and heartache will linger for a while after Fernandez died early Sunday in a boating accident at age 24. The Miami ace was one of the game's brightest young stars, his precocious talent matched by an infectious, fun-loving personality.
''My first impression of Jose was, 'This rookie is way too comfortable.' The first time that he pitched against us, it kind of caught you off guard because he was so animated,'' Colorado manager Walt Weiss said.