Jerry Hairston Jr. Mourns the Untimely Passing of Fernando Valenzuela: “63 Is Too Young”

Jerry Hairston Jr. stands among many in the baseball community expressing grief over the loss of Fernando Valenzuela this week … sharing with TMZ Sports that his respect for the Dodgers icon was boundless.

Over the recent years, Hairston Jr. had the privilege to collaborate with the legendary pitcher … both were involved in broadcasting L.A. games—resulting in a wealth of positive experiences with him.

He mentioned he had gone golfing a few times with Valenzuela … traditionally sharing plenty of laughs on the greens and at Dodger Stadium as well.

“He was modest, generous, and humorous,” Hairston Jr. remarked. “The camaraderie we shared between him, our colleagues, and fellow former players reflected his unparalleled wit.”

“We will greatly miss Fernando,” he continued. “At just 63 years old, that is far too young.”

As for the cause of Valenzuela’s passing—who clinched both Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young award in 1981 while playing for the Dodgers—details remain undisclosed … yet Hairston Jr. disclosed that he and others close to the former star had been aware of his battle with illness during his final weeks.

“He leaves behind a significant legacy,” stated Hairston Jr., “and Fernando will always be remembered.”