On Sept. 2, 2011, pitcher Jose Fernandez made his professional baseball career debut in Chautauqua County as a member of the Jamestown Jammers. It was his only appearance for the team. In 2.1 innings against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers he gave up four hits, five runs (all earned), walked three and struck out four. You can actually see his debut at www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSbsTRMfYzo, courtesy of Greg Peterson.

In 2012, Fernandez, who emigrated to the United States from Cuba in 2008 after three failed defection attempts, joined the Class A South Atlantic League and the Florida State League, where he went 14-1. And in his four seasons in the Major Leagues with the Florida Marlins, Fernandez posted a 38-17 record, including 16-8 mark this season. His last start was last Tuesday when he shut out Washington, 1-0.

Over the weekend, Fernandez’ life came to an end. The 24-year-old was killed Sunday morning around 3 o’clock in a boating accident off Miami Beach. Two others lost their lives as well.

During his brief career, Fernandez was brilliant. In 2013, he won the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award and the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He came in third place in the Cy Young Award voting behind Adam Wainwright and winner Clayton Kershaw. Twice he played in MLB’s All-Star Game.

His last game was on Sept. 20. He pitched eight shutout innings in a 1-0 win against the division-leading Washington Nationals, striking out 12 batters and allowing just three hits with no walks. Afterward, Fernandez told teammate Martin Prado it was “the best game he ever pitched.”

Fernandez was a potential Hall of Famer and could have been the most famous baseball player to play professional baseball for Jamestown since Randy Johnson.

Fernandez’s friend, Eddy Rivero, who also died in the accident, had a tattoo on his arm that read “Life is Short. Heaven is Forever.”

Sometimes, like in Fernandez’s death, life is too short.