UPDATE: The jersey was returned to Alonso High School on Friday night. A family found a large envelope leaning up against the ticket booth at Alonso High School with the words "Jose's jersey" written on the envelope. The family brought the envelope to the high school on Friday morning and the jersey was inside.
The Alonso High School family says they are grateful to have the jersey back and they want to thank everyone for sharing our story on social media.
ORIGINAL STORY: A baseball star’s jersey was stolen right out of the dugout during his vigil Wednesday night. The Alonso High School community gathered to remember their alumni Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, who died in a boating crash.
The jersey stolen was a high school jersey with the number 16 on it.
“I had it displayed here,” head baseball coach Landy Faedo said.
RELATED | Friends, family, former teammates remember Jose Fernandez at Alonso High School
Now, an empty hanger is where Jose Fernandez’s jersey once was.
“It boggles my mind just that somebody would do something like that,” Faedo said.
Faedo coached Fernandez for three years. He said the jersey went missing after the vigil ended, just before 9 p.m. Wednesday night. As many as 600 people gathered to remember Fernandez, who spend most of his high school career playing at Alonso High School.
“I just brought it out so people could see it, so when they first walked in the dugout they’d see that number 16 there and just give a quick thought about Jose real quick,” Faedo said.
School officials suspect maybe a fan who wasn’t a part of the school community snatched the jersey. Now, many students are upset about the theft.
“They were just in awe, they couldn’t believe you know and just people on social media they’re chiming in and some people they’re really angry,” Faedo said.
There’s no surveillance video, so the school is relying on good faith to get the jersey back.
“Just bring it back, you know, do the right things, one thing we try to instill in the kids here at school is good decisions, just be a good person, and just do the right things, something like that is not the right thing,” Faedo said.
At this time, there is no possible suspect or description of a suspect.
If you know who stole the jersey, please speak up and contact Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
