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Marlins to retire Fernandez's No. 16

Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

The Miami Marlins will retire Jose Fernandez's No. 16 after Monday's game against the New York Mets, team owner Jeffrey Loria told reporters.

Fernandez, who died in a boating accident Sunday, will be honored prior to Monday's game, for which the entire Marlins team will wear his No. 16 along with his name on the backs of their jerseys.

Loria did not immediately announce any plans for a retirement ceremony, but he was adamant he didn't want anyone else to wear the late pitcher's number.

"There are plenty of numbers they can wear. But not that one. We'll let them use triple digits if we have to," Loria told WPLG Local 10's Will Manso.

Related: Players, fans honor Fernandez ahead of Marlins' home game

Fernandez's number will be the first retired specifically by the Marlins. The team has already retired Jackie Robinson's iconic No. 42, though that's part of an MLB-wide initiative to commemorate the former trailblazer.

Monday will mark Miami's first game since the accident that killed the 24-year-old along with Emilio Macias and Eduardo Rivera, who were 27 and 25 years old, respectively. Their Sunday matchup against the Atlanta Braves was canceled.

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