A.J. Ramos could have been mad, but wasn’t. He was sad.
All winter, as the Marlins were maneuvering to strip the closer’s role from Ramos and hand it to Aroldis Chapman or Kenley Jansen, Ramos traveled the globe burdened with grief. No matter where he went — Brazil, Israel, Greece, Romania, Spain and The Netherlands — he was consumed with thoughts of Jose Fernandez.
“Wherever we are, wherever we play, wherever we go, we’re always with him. That’s where we are,” Ramos said. “I’m never going to forget that kid.”
When Marlins pitchers and catchers begin spring training workouts in Jupiter on Tuesday, one pitcher will be missing: their ace.