The MLB, and sporting world as a whole, was in sorrow yesterday when news that 24-year-old star pitcher, Jose Fernandez, passed away in a boating accident. Fernandez and two of his friends were cruising Miami Beach in his boat late Saturday night when it suddenly hit a jetty, causing the boat to flip over. Fernandez and both his friends were announced dead at the scene.

Fernandez, who spoke both English and Spanish perfectly, was viewed as a symbol of hope to his fellow Cubans in Florida. He and his family made three unsuccessful attempts to leave Cuba when he was a child. It wasn’t until 2008 that they finally reached the United States. In 2013, Fernandez started off on the Miami Marlins’ Class A minor league team, but by the time Opening Day came, he had made the jump to the major league club. There, Fernandez made his way to the All-Star team and won Rookie of the Year.

This year, the Miami Marlins’ pitcher was in the midst of another great season. He was 16-8 with a solid 2.86 ERA, earning a spot in the race for the Cy Young Award, which is given to the season’s most outstanding pitcher. Fernandez had a record of 38-17 over his four-year career that was tragically cut short this weekend. Those around the game of baseball described him as full of life and always happy, on and off the field.

Take one glance through his Instagram account and you can see that he loved his mother and girlfriend very much. One of the last photos he posted onto his account was a picture of his girlfriend on a beach showing her belly bump, with the caption, “I’m so glad you came into my life. I’m ready for where this journey is gonna take us together. #familyfirst.”

Jose Fernandez leaves his expecting girlfriend and loving family at the tender age of 24, with so much hope and promise left in his baseball career.