Baseball: Jose Fernandez will report to Jupiter Wednesday

Posted Aug 16, 2011 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Aug 16, 2011 at 03:27 PM

Two days after agreeing upon a contract with the Florida Marlins, former Alonso ace Jose Fernandez will report to the squad’s spring training home in Jupiter on Wednesday.

According to adviser Rich Arena, he and Fernandez will leave Tampa at 11 a.m. Wednesday, driving to Jupiter where Fernandez will be evaluated. Once the evaluation occurs, a decision will be made as to where he will make his professional debut.

Fernandez’s options, when it comes to getting professional experience immediately, is short. The Marlins’ Gulf Coast League team, a rookie ball club, is tops in the GCL East Division and look to be in the playoffs, which begins August 30.

Meanwhile, the Marlins’ New York-Penn League team, Jamestown Jammers, has nearly three weeks left in its season. That Class A short-season team is in postseason contention, which begins Sept. 7.

“I don’t know where they’re going to start him, but I know the first place he’s going is in Jupiter,” Arena said.

According reports, Fernandez asked for upwards of $4 million for a signing bonus, although his draft position was slotted for $1.6 million, a figure recommended by Major League Baseball. His bonus was $2 million.

Fernandez was drafted No. 14 overall on June 6 during the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft after leading his Ravens baseball team to its second state title in three years.

“Getting to the place where we settled, took a lot between our guys in the office, the lawyers and the brass of the Marlins,” Arena said. “All in all, I think both sides are completely ecstatic. It was a great thing.”

As a senior, Fernandez went 13-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 134 strikeouts. In three years at Alonso, Fernandez is 30-3, having struck out 314 batters. His body of work earned him a baseball scholarship to the University of South Florida, which he signed in April.

Fernandez was also selected as the Class 6A Baseball Player of the year and was named Florida’s Mr. Baseball.

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