Gordon smacks leadoff homer as grieving Marlins return to action
That one was for you, Jose.
As the bereaved Miami Marlins returned to the field Monday night, still reeling from the tragic death of Jose Fernandez, light-hitting second baseman Dee Gordon saluted his late teammate as best he could from the batter's box, cranking a leadoff home run off Bartolo Colon before a somber crowd at Marlins Park.
It was Gordon's first home run of the season. He burst into tears after touching the plate.
"Tears were coming down his face," Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud told MLB.com's Anthony Dicomo. "They were coming down mine, too. The whole world felt that emotion."
On Sunday, after learning of Fernandez's death, Gordon made a touching Instagram post for the 24-year-old right-hander he considered "family."
"My brother," wrote Gordon. "You were family to me. My heart is hurting wishing you would just burst through the clubhouse doors any second now late like always laughing telling me how many red and yellow snapper you caught last night."
(Video courtesy: MLB.com)