Jose Fernandez – the star pitcher for the Miami Marlins – was killed alongside two of his friends in a Sunday morning boat crash.
Just days earlier the 24-year-old revealed on Instagram that he was becoming a dad for the first time.
Next to a picture showing his pregnant girlfriend Carla Mendoza cradling her baby bump, he wrote: “I’m so glad you came into my life.
“I’m ready for where this journey is gonna take us together. #familyfirst.”
But tragically Jose’s life ended in the early hours of Sunday morning not far from Miami Beach.
He was with two friends who have yet to be identified. Two of the bodies were found floating on top of the water. The third was underneath the boat, which according to the Miami Herald had severe damage to its underside.
The Miami Marlins released a statement about the death of their star pitcher, saying: “The Miami Marlins organisation is devastated by the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.”
The team was set to play on Sunday in a game against the Atlanta Braves. It has now been cancelled.
Born in Cuba in 1992, Jose made three attempts to leave the Communist island and defect to the US. He was finally successful in 2008 when he and his mother Maritza escaped to Mexico on a speedboat.
It was a dangerous journey and, ironically, Jose saved his mum from drowning when she fell out of the boat.
He said in 2009 about the journey: “I thought I was going to die many times.”