Carla Mendoza is speaking out three days after the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend José Fernández. In an Instagram post, the Miami Marlins pitcher's former love opened up about the unbearable heartbreak that she's suffering.
"There was so much more to him than anyone could even begin to understand. I'm fortunate enough to have loved and be loved by Jose, and his family, for over 3 crazy beautiful years," she captioned the photo alongside Fernández.
Mendoza who had a public relationship with the late baseball player also thanked all of those who reached out to her during this difficult moment.
"Nothing will make this time easy for anyone and if you do anything today, let it be that you tell those close to you how much you love them," she wrote.
Mendoza expressed her sympathy for Fernández's current girlfriend, Maria Arias, and the mother of his unborn daughter.
She ended her post by saying, "My heart goes out to Maria, as she is expecting his child. Please honor Jose's memory by respecting his daughter and her mother as I'm sure this all too painful for her as well."
Just days before his untimely death, Fernández shared the news that he was going to be a father. The baseball star posted a photo a black and white photo of Arias holding her baby bump, which he captioned, "I'm so glad you came into my life. I'm ready for where this journey is gonna take us together. #familyfirst"
Fernández died early Sunday morning when his 32-foot fishing boat struck a jetty along Government Cut and Fisher Island in Miami Beach. We later learned that the two other victims who died onboard the tragic boat ride were his friends Emilio Jesus Macias, 27, and Eduardo Rivero, 25.
Today Miami and the world say goodbye to Fernández. After emotional moments with grieving teammates, the hearse carrying Fernández's body arrived at La Ermita de la Caridad in Coconut Grove, where we witnessed the gut-wrenching moment that his mother and grandmother gave his casket a heartbreaking kiss.
The family is asking for donations to be made to the Miami Foundation, instead of flowers.