Fernandez’s missing high school jersey returned

Credit: Joe Skipper

Credit: Joe Skipper

Jose Fernandez’s original high school jersey, which went missing during a candlelight vigil Wednesday night for the late Miami Marlins pitcher, was returned Thursday.
Nearly 600 friends and fans gathered at the baseball field at Alonso High School in Tampa, Florida, for a Wednesday night vigil, for Fernandez, 24, who was killed in a boating accident early Sunday morning.
According to Hillsborough County Public School officials, Fernandez’s home jersey was hanging in the dugout during the ceremony. As the coaches and school leaders were cleaning up after the vigil, they noticed the jersey was gone.
On Thursday a family saw a large envelope leaning against a ticket booth at the high school. The writing on the outside of the envelope read “Jose’s jersey.” The family brought the envelope to school officials, who said they were grateful to have the jersey back.
Fernandez led Alonso to the Class 6A state title in 2011, going 13-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 134 strikeouts. He was named Florida’s Mr. Baseball as a senior and was drafted as the Marlins’ first-round pick (and 14th overall) in the 2011 amateur draft. He also played for Alonso when the team won the Class 6A crown in 2009.

Fernandez had a 38-17 career record in the major leagues and went 16-8 in 2016. He was a two-time all-star and the National League Rookie of the Year in 2013.

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