Jose Fernandez was not someone you had to remind yourself to humanize. He was not a player you had reduced to an on-field construct because that’s just how we have to compartmentalize everything. No, no, goodness no. He was so radiant that when he’s ripped away, you almost have to force yourself to remember the talent. How well he played the sport is the afterthought because all you can think about at first is the joy.
My god, the joy.
My favorite highlight of his has absolutely nothing to do with how he played baseball.
That’s Fernandez watching Giancarlo Stanton from 40 feet away and being as excited to be there as any of us will be about anything. Most players make you think things like, "Gee, I wish I could throw a curveball like that," but Fernandez was the only one who made you think, "I hope I’m that excited about life one of these days." When he snatches the comebacker from Troy Tulowitzki, when he stares in unfettered wonder at his first home run.