When I woke up Sunday morning and read the news of José Fernandez's death, I was in complete shock. How could, all of a sudden, one of baseball's best players and human beings be gone from the world just like that? This was a tragedy unimaginable.

Fernandez was on the verge of completing perhaps his best season of his young four year career with the Marlins, after having the past two cut short due to Tommy John Surgery. Despite this setback, he returned to his rookie-year form in 2016. 16-8 record, 2.86 earned run average, 253 strikeouts. Even posthumously, still has a legitimate chance to capture this year's NL Cy Young Award. How special that would be...

Josê's contribution to the game of baseball goes way beyond these remarkable statistics. Those around the league, including fans as well, constantly praised him for his passion for the sport. He absolutely loved being around his teammates and watching them succeed, both on and off the field. This was a man that gave everything he had to make it big in the United States, following a successful defection from his native country of Cuba at the young age of 15. Josê not only had an obvious love for baseball, but an even greater appreciation for life itself.

As I got a chance to reflect on his passing, I started to think about the idea of life, how it take be taken away from someone at any moment. We truly need to appreciate every day we have here; "every day is a gift, that's why we call it the present." Tell those who are important in your life that you care for them, that you love them. While only a few words, it's an incredibly powerful and meaningful statement.

If there's one legacy that Josê left behind, it's to make a positive difference on someone else's life-- a family member, a good friend-- anyone, really. Being a genuinely good person to others is one of the greatest qualities a man or women can possess. Josê Fernandez embodied these qualities to the fullest.

Rest in peace, Josê Fernandez. You will be missed.