Jose Fernandez’s family visited the Marlins’ clubhouse in memory of the pitcher

Less than a year after he died unexpectedly in a boating accident, and on what would have been his 25th birthday, the family of Jose Fernandez visited the Marlins’ clubhouse in memory of the deceased Marlins pitcher.

Fernandez’s mother, grandmother, five-month-old daughter Penelope, and Penelope’s mother, Maria Arias, all took time Monday to remember the dearly missed Marlins standout in various ways.

In addition to visiting the clubhouse, where players like Dee Gordon and Miguel Rojas doted on Jose’s daughter, his mother also went to the seaside location of his death, posting a beautiful message on Facebook about her son.

“My beautiful boy wherever you are today we are all going to remember and miss you so much. Your mommy is waiting for you my love. I love you so much my Delfy. Nothing harder than living without you my love.”

While at the park, Dee Gordon showed Penelope her father’s old locker where his uniform and cleats still reside. According to the Miami Herald, Rojas noted how much the infant looked like her father, saying,

“She is beautiful. She has the same face as Jose. Even the hair. Kind of the messy hair like his when he came out of the showers. That’s a little piece that we kind of need to remember him. This is a little piece of Jose in this world.”

Both Rojas and Marcell Ozuna were surprised by the little girl when she visited the players at the facility’s batting cages courtesy of Dee Gordon’s tour, but embraced the moment by immediately stopping what they were doing.

The family also made scheduled visits to manager Don Mattingly, as well as a requested meeting with Bryce Harper and Gio Gonzalez — friends of Fernandez who shared agent Scott Boras and were at the ballpark to face off against the Marlins the same day. Harper later said he needed that visit “a lot.”

While the day seems to have served as something of a salve for the players, and a privilege to spend time with the family Fernandez left behind, Rojas also underscored the day with an emotional statement.

“For us, it means the world because he’s been missed the whole time. We’ve been playing through it, but we’ll never forget him. I know it was supposed to be his birthday today. Wherever he is, we know he’s with us.”

Fernandez’s mother also honored her son’s birthday by making a $25,000 donation to the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana from Jose’s JDF16 Foundation saying, “I feel that Jose would be proud of what I am doing in his memory ... this gift comes from Jose’s heart.”