Levine: Cubs Players Remember The 'Special' Jose Fernandez

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Across baseball, the shockwaves of Marlins ace Jose Fernandez's tragic death early Sunday reverberated throughout every clubhouse. The reactions centered around the zest for life that Fernandez had and disbelief that in one quick moment, a young person with so much life was gone forever.

A boating accident off Miami Beach in the wee hours of Sunday morning claimed the life of the 24-year-old Fernandez, one of the great young stars in the game. Fernandez was a linchpin between the Cuban community in the city and the Marlins organization.

"He was a great humanitarian," Cubs closer and fellow Cuban Aroldis Chapman said through a translator. "He gave a lot of himself to the community. I think that is why he got a lot of respect from the community in terms of what a great person he was. He was always willing to help out in any way he could. He would see people who were less lucky and try to help out."

Fernandez was winding up a breakout campaign that included 16 wins and another All-Star appearance. A Miami resident himself, Chapman had known Fernandez for five years.

"I met him in 2011," Chapman said. "I believe he had just signed with Miami. We did hang out together. We did spend time together in the offseason. He would come by my house, I would go by his. We would have long conversations. We spent a lot of quality time together. Our time together was very special for me."

A memorial service and burial are being planned for early next week by the Fernandez family and the Marlins organization.

"This is a sad day," Cubs outfielder and fellow Cuban Jorge Soler said. "I have known him since we were both in Cuba. It is sad and a great loss for the game. He was such a great pitcher with such awesome potential. I think all of us in baseball have a heavy heart after what has happened."

Soler and Fernandez knew each other since they were preteens.

"We are like family," Soler said about the common bound between the Cuban players in baseball. "I think we are a very close-knit family from that aspect. We got along great, and we talked a lot from the time he signed with the team. He was just an awesome talent. He was a great person in general. He was always very happy. For me, I was lucky to spend time together with him in various times. It was a great honor for me. There were great moments we spent together as brothers."

Fernandez and Soler, also 24 years old, played on an a travel team when they were both 11. Soler recalled the group of young players went to Venezuela for a tournament.

"When we were kids, you could see the talent," Soler said. "Even then he was very impressive. I know everybody is sad and heartbroken by what occurred in Miami. This is a difficult moment for everyone."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.