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José Fernández's Pallbearers Wear No. 16 Jersey in Emotional Funeral for Marlins Star

José Fernández's Pallbearers Wear No. 16 Jersey in Emotional Funeral for Marlins Star

Pallbearers wearing Miami Marlins star José Fernández number 16 jersey carried his casket into the private funeral that was held for the 24-year-old on Thursday.

One day after fans were able to say their final farewell, nearly 200 members of the Miami Marlins organization gathered at St. Brendan Catholic Church with Fernández's closest family and friends.

His girlfriend, Maria Arias, who is also expecting their child, sat next to Fernández's mother and grandmother in the pews, with their heads bowed. His mother was spotted sobbing and hugging Arias several times.



Some of the players at the funeral have "16" shaved into their heads. Dee Gordon, the player who hit a solo home run to begin the first Marlins game after Fernández's death, was also spotted crying in the pews.

RELATED VIDEO: Inside José Fernández's Final Hours Before the Ace Pitcher's Tragic Death at Sea


Singer Marc Anthony, Hall of Famer Tony Perez and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz were in attendance, according to WSVN.

Barry Bonds, the Marlins hitting coach, was also spotted taking Communion.

Fernández died Sunday alongside two friends after the boat they were riding in crashed into a rock jetty.

After Communion, Ralph Fernandez of Tampa spoke on behalf of the family, and painted a picture of the young man taken too soon.

"He was a risk-taker and pushed the envelope with just about everything he did," he said. "He lived his life like he threw his fastball – hard – but he enjoyed every second of it," he said.

"The sea brought José and the sea took him away," he also said.

After the funeral. Marlins team and personnel will reportedly fly to Washington, D.C. where they play their final three games of the season.

With reporting by BECKY RANDEL