Miami Marlins rookie pitcher Jose Fernandez thought he was being dragged into manager Mike Redmond's office because he was being sent back to the minors ... or was in trouble.
Fernandez walked into the office and saw Remond and the other Marlins coaches. Their faces indicated it wouldn't be good news. But the joke would soon be on Fernandez, as he told FOX Sports Florida's Kristen Hewitt.
Redmond and Marlins general manager Mike Hill began the prank by telling Fernandez that they couldn't believe that he had disappointed them.
"I promise you I've been in my room for the past five days watching '24,' " Fernandez said.
Then they put owner Jeffrey Loria on the phone to continue the ruse. Fernandez again insisted that he had been relaxing and watching Kiefer Sutherland on "24."
And then the smiles broke. Loria delivered the news -- Fernandez, who doesn't even turn 21 until July 31, would be the second youngest pitcher in All-Star Game history when he joins the NL roster for Tuesday's game. Fernandez is 5-5 this season with a 2.83 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 98.2 innings.
Fernandez also took time to visit The Miami Children's Museum, and he spent time meeting summer campers, taking photos, playing on the slides and talking with the boys and girls. His day with the kids will be chronicled in a Billy's Bunch on Aug. 3 on FOX Sports Florida.
