Jose Fernandez Family: His Daughter Penelope, Girlfriend Maria Arias and Parents

Jose Fernandez was one of the most promising young pitchers in Major League Baseball before his life ended tragically at just 24 years old. The Miami Marlins star had already become an All-Star and National League Rookie of the Year, but away from baseball, family remained an important part of his story.

Born on July 31, 1992, Fernandez grew up in Cuba before eventually reaching the United States and pursuing the baseball career that made him famous. He died on September 25, 2016, following a boating accident near Miami.

His death left behind a grieving mother, former wife, girlfriend and a daughter he never had the opportunity to meet. Jose Fernandez’s family story is therefore filled with both remarkable moments and painful ones, particularly the birth of his daughter Penelope several months after his passing.

Who Was Jose Fernandez?

Jose Fernandez was a Cuban-born baseball pitcher who played for the Miami Marlins.

He had loved baseball from a young age and eventually developed into one of the most exciting pitchers of his generation.

The Marlins selected him in the 2011 MLB Draft. After spending time developing in the minor leagues, Fernandez reached the major leagues in 2013.

His arrival was immediate.

Fernandez was named National League Rookie of the Year during his first MLB season and was selected for the All-Star Game.

He earned another All-Star selection in 2016.

His career appeared to be heading toward even greater success before the fatal boating accident ended his life in September 2016.

Fernandez was only 24.

Jose Fernandez’s Mother Was Maritza Gomez Fernandez

Jose Fernandez’s mother was Maritza Gomez Fernandez.

Their relationship was especially close, partly because of everything the family experienced while leaving Cuba.

One of the most dramatic moments in their lives happened during an attempted journey to the United States in 2007.

According to the family story, Maritza fell overboard during the trip.

Jose jumped into the water and helped save his mother’s life.

The incident later became an important part of the story surrounding Fernandez’s journey to America and showed just how strong the bond between mother and son was.

Maritza was understandably devastated when Jose died.

On what would have been his 25th birthday, she reportedly returned to the location near where the accident occurred.

She placed 25 candles there and marked his initials on a rock as a tribute to her son.

At the time of Jose’s death, Maritza was married to Amaury Hernández.

Who Was Jose Fernandez’s Father?

The details provided about Jose Fernandez’s biological father are limited.

His biological father’s name has not been publicly revealed in the source information.

Jose was instead raised in part by his stepfather, Ramon Jimenez.

Ramon had worked as a doctor in Cuba before moving to the United States in 2005.

He played an important role in Jose’s development as a baseball player.

Most importantly, Ramon introduced the young Fernandez to respected baseball coach Orlando Chinea.

That connection became part of Jose’s early development as he worked toward becoming a professional pitcher.

Fernandez’s relationship with fatherhood later became especially meaningful because he had grown up without knowing his own biological father.

Jose Fernandez Was Previously Married to Alejandra Baleato Marichal

Before his final relationship, Jose Fernandez had been married to Alejandra Baleato Marichal.

Alejandra was born on September 2, 1992, and is of Uruguayan descent.

Jose reportedly began dating her in 2009.

Their relationship became serious enough that the couple married in November 2012.

Fernandez was still extremely young at the time, and his professional baseball career was only beginning to develop.

The marriage did not last long.

Jose and Alejandra eventually separated, with their marriage ending in 2014.

Very little additional information about Alejandra’s life after their marriage has been made part of the family story provided.

Maria Arias Was Jose Fernandez’s Girlfriend

At the time of his death, Jose Fernandez was in a relationship with Maria Arias.

Maria and Jose were reportedly friends before their relationship became romantic.

They started dating around May 2016.

Maria, who also has Cuban roots, studied psychology in college.

She later remembered Fernandez as a protective, romantic and caring boyfriend.

According to Maria, Jose frequently gave her roses and wrote love letters.

Their relationship lasted only a few months before tragedy changed everything.

At the time of Jose’s death, Maria was pregnant with their first child.

That meant Fernandez died knowing he was going to become a father, but he never got the opportunity to meet his daughter.

Jose Fernandez’s Daughter Is Penelope Jo Fernandez Arias

Jose Fernandez’s only known child is his daughter, Penelope Jo Fernandez Arias.

Penelope was born on February 24, 2017, approximately five months after her father’s death.

Her birth added another emotional chapter to the Fernandez family story.

Jose had reportedly been excited about becoming a father.

Maria later said he especially wanted to have a daughter.

Because Jose had grown up without a relationship with his biological father, becoming a dad carried special meaning for him.

He wanted to provide his child with the kind of father figure he had missed in his own childhood.

Sadly, he never had the opportunity.

Penelope entered the world knowing her father only through photographs, stories and the legacy he left behind.

Jose Prepared for Fatherhood Before His Death

One of the most touching details shared by Maria Arias concerns the night before Fernandez died.

According to Maria, Jose had prepared a baseball glove for his unborn daughter.

It was a small gesture, but one that showed how much he was already thinking about fatherhood.

Baseball had shaped almost every part of Jose’s life.

Preparing a glove for Penelope suggested that he imagined one day sharing that part of himself with his daughter.

That future never arrived.

When Penelope was around six months old, she visited Marlins Park with her mother.

During the visit, she reportedly became emotional near a photograph of her late father.

Although she would never personally remember Jose, his presence would remain part of her life through family stories and the baseball community that remembered him.

His Family Continued Living With His Legacy

Jose Fernandez’s death affected far more than baseball.

For his mother Maritza, it meant losing the son with whom she had shared an extraordinary journey from Cuba to the United States.

For Maria Arias, it meant becoming a mother while grieving the man with whom she had expected to raise their child.

For Penelope, it meant growing up with a father she would know through memories shared by others.

His family story also includes stepfather Ramon Jimenez and former wife Alejandra Baleato Marichal, both of whom were part of different chapters of his short life.

Fernandez’s professional achievements remain impressive.

He became an MLB All-Star, won Rookie of the Year honors and developed into one of the Miami Marlins’ brightest young stars.

But his family story offers a more personal view.

Behind the powerful pitcher was a young man deeply connected to his mother, excited about becoming a father and preparing for a family future that ended far too soon.

His daughter Penelope remains perhaps the most personal part of that legacy.