Jose Fernandez's girlfriend has given birth to a baby girl and says her daughter is a little piece of him that he left behind. 

Maria Arias said she and baby Penelope are both doing well after she gave birth last Friday.

The Miami Marlins star was killed in a boating accident on September 25 when the vessel he was riding in with two friends crashed into a coastal barrier.

Jose Fernandez pictured on a boat with his girlfriend Maria Arias watching a sunset

Fernandez's girlfriend Maria Arias, 24, was pregnant with his child when he died in September

Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins pitches during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 15, 2016 in Washington, DC

Arias said the baby has brought a light of joy into her life, but told People: 'It has not taken any of the pain away of course, because that's always going to remain, but she's definitely brightened up our lives.

'A lot of people were anticipating her arrival, because at the end of the day, it's a little piece of him that he left behind for us.'

Fernandez found out he was having a girl a month before he was killed when he cut into a gender reveal cake at a family dinner. 

He had already named her Penelope before his death. 

The pitcher's agent, Scott Boras, said at the funeral: 'When he found out he was going to be a father he wanted to know: "Am I going to be a good father?" and I told him, "You're going to be a great father, because you're going to treat your child like your mother treated you. And you'll know exactly what to do."

'The next day he bought a glove and put Penelope on it for his unborn daughter.'

Maria Arias said that her baby girl Penelope was a piece of Fernandez that he had left behind

Miami Marlins players all wearing jerseys bearing the number 16 and name Fernandez honor the late Jose Fernandez before the game against the New York Mets at Marlins Park on September 26, 2016 in Miami, Florida

Miami Marlins' Martin Prado, Adeiny Hechavarria and Marcell Ozuna, paid tribute on the field to pitcher Jose Fernandez

Investigators look over the overturned boat in which Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed on September 25, 2016, in Maimi Beach

As a teenager, Fernandez escaped Cuba by boat on his fourth attempt. During the crossing his mother fell into the ocean and he jumped in to save her life.

The 24-year-old had been earmarked as a rising star of baseball thanks to a 100mph fast ball.

It was a stunning debut year: He made it as an All Star, was in the game's top ten pitchers and was picked as Rookie of the Year.

He was the first pitcher in the modern era to win his first 17 career home decisions, and went 24-1 in his first 25 home decisions.

He also made his second All Star appearance in the 2016 rankings, and went 38-17 in over the course of his four seasons with the Marlins.

Last week, he was posthumously named Sporting News' National League Comeback Player of the Year.

Fernandez's girlfriend Maria Arias, 24, was pregnant with his child when he died.

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