Fernandez , 24 , was one of the bright young stars in Major League Baseball .
Was immensely popular in South Florida , where one 's 's tale of escaping one 's Fernandez 's his family as a boy and growing up in United States was familiar to many .
Fernandez , 24 , was one of the bright young stars in Major League Baseball and was immensely popular in South Florida , where his tale of escaping Cuba with his family as a boy and growing up in United States was familiar to many .