Dee Gordon’s Emotional Lead-Off Home Run In Tribute To Jose Fernandez [VIDEO]

Dee Gordon honored his late Marlins teammate Jose Fernandez—then he homered.

A day after their teammate passed away in a tragic boating accident, the Marlins paid tribute to Jose Fernandez by taking the field in his No. 16 jersey. The team also dedicated a beautiful pregame tribute to Fernandez as players and fans mourned the loss of the baseball star.

The most emotional moment of the night by far came when Dee Gordon stepped up to bat in the bottom of the first. Gordon—a left-handed hitter—stepped into the right-handed side of the box, which was clearly a tribute to Fernandez who swung from there.

Little did anyone know the gesture would only be the beginning of the real tribute as Gordon took the next pitch from Bartolo Colon and went yard for his first home run of the season.

Gordon was visibly overcome with emotion as he rounded the bases and eventually ended up crossing home plate into the arms of his teammates who embraced him on his way back into the dugout.

Later, Gordon (who is barely 160 pounds) said that the upper deck shot was the farthest he has ever hit a ball in his life, telling his teammates,

'If you all don’t believe in God, you better start.’ For that to happen today, we had some help.

After the game was over the entire team gathered at the mound, leaving their hats in memory of Fernandez.

[via ESPN]