Major League Baseball announced the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award nominees on Friday morning, with star shortstop Francisco Lindor getting the honor for the New York Mets.
The Roberto Clemente Award is bestowed annually to the player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
Francisco Lindor. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
“Every baseball field has a little bit of (Roberto) Clemente in it,” said Lindor on MLB Network after being announced as the Mets’ nominee. “To be nominated for an award like this is special.”
Every year, each MLB Club nominates a player to be considered for the Award in tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character. This year’s list of nominees features players whose various community and philanthropic activities have focused on important issues ranging from awareness and fundraising to support those with cancer and other illnesses or special needs, education for young people, natural disaster relief, outreach to underserved children and communities in the United States and abroad, and more.
Lindor has been heavily involved in philanthropy since he became a fixture in the big leagues, from donations to help Hurricane Fiona victims in Puerto Rico to donating $1 million to build Lindor Hall at his alma mater, Montverde Academy in Florida.
This August, Francisco partnered with New Balance for a back-to-school backpack drive. Throughout the months of August and September, Francisco will have visited numerous schools in the tri-state area to deliver backpacks and school supplies to schools and students in need, as well as provide financial assistance to several schools in the New York City area.
You can vote for the Roberto Clemente Award here. The last Met to win the Roberto Clemente Award was Curtis Granderson in 2016.
