![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/nicholsonstudentmedia.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b8/2b8a4ff8-8526-11e6-8466-07ec97ffcc9e/57eb414c44015.image.jpg?resize=435%2C500)
UCF students and social media remember José Fernández
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/USATSI_7212353.jpg)
From Cuba to All-Star: The Jose Fernandez story
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160926142854-cnnee-pkg-conmueve-la-muerte-del-beisbolista-jose-fernandez-00001614.jpg?q=w_4377,h_3088,x_0,y_0,c_fill)
Jose Fernandez's story is the story of Cuban Americans
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/ma2dj8/picture105008606/alternates/FREE_1140/FGH30%20Fernandez%20News%20rk)
Jose Fernandez mourned by family and friends at private funeral
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://www.si.com/.image/t_share/MTY4MTI2MjA4OTIxNTExMTg1/2016-0926-miami-marlins-jose-fernandez-tribute-jpg.jpg)
Jose Fernandez's death hit hard for the Marlins, baseball and
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=13821656&width=600&quality=80)
Proud To Be An American: A Reflection On Cuban-Born Jose Fernandez
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/-mm-/83b72dcbd001e53443fe2c5aa638c652db56f484/c=241-372-1891-2572/local/-/media/2016/09/25/USATODAY/USATODAY/636104046195219961-USP-MLB--Los-Angeles-Dodgers-at-Miami-Marlins.jpg)
Death of Marlins' pitcher Jose Fernandez devastates Florida Cuban
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160929025007-jose-fernandez-memorial-sanchez-orig-00012925.jpg?q=w_1920,h_1080,x_0,y_0,c_fill)
Jose Fernandez's story is the story of Cuban Americans
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://www.si.com/.image/ar_4:3%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1200/MTY4MTU0OTc5ODMxOTE1Nzkz/jose-fernandez-marlins-cuba-united-states-defection-storyjpg.jpg)
How Jose Fernandez came from Cuba to the United States - Sports
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://cbs12.com/resources/media2/16x9/full/1050/center/80/a334cc10-20c4-4a57-8f4d-fe5af1ef1c5a-large16x9_WebMesa.PNG?1540264070129)
Marlins sign Cuban born Mesa brothers with the late Jose
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/IB76OFGMKBGAJAQPPBOJJAS6YM.JPG)
Cuban MLB players who fled the island hope no one else has to
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://a.espncdn.com/media/motion/2016/0926/dm_160926_mlb_lebatard_fernandez/dm_160926_mlb_lebatard_fernandez.jpg)
Watching Jose Fernandez pitch felt like freedom to Cubans - ESPN
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/09/26/05/38C7A9B400000578-0-Immigrant_hero_Fernandez_risked_death_to_get_to_the_US_from_Cuba-a-91_1474863202686.jpg)
Jose Fernandez' final words to his pregnant girlfriend days before
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://a.espncdn.com/media/motion/2016/0926/dm_160926_mlb_jose_fernandez_obit/dm_160926_mlb_jose_fernandez_obit.jpg?w=1600)
Marlins' Marcell Ozuna, friend relayed concerns about late-night
![Before he was an MLB star, Jose Fernandez risked his life to escape Cuba](https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2021/07/07152718/GettyImages-611651980-scaled.jpg)
Gammons: Ten years after the storied 2011 draft, José Fernández