Representing the Minnesota Twins, he will be the only Dominican finalist for the 2021 edition of the award.
Major League Baseball (MLB) announced this Tuesday the finalists who will opt for the Roberto Clemente Award in its 2021 edition where it appears Nelson Cruz, the only Dominican on the list.
Cruz will represent the Minnesota Twins in this edition despite being currently on the roster of the Tampa Bay Rays team to which he was traded last July.
The Dominican slugger, who is among the finalists for the second year in a row, has appeared in 85 games with the Twins and has played 41 with the Rays.
According to their description, the award finalists represent “the best of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
.@ncboomstick23 continues to be our nominee for the Roberto Clemente 2021 award in recognition of his impact on the #TwinsTerritory and in Las Mayores.
TO VOTE ????: https://t.co/5NfgRXOavT pic.twitter.com/judLKI2Cd7
— Los Twins (@twinsbeisbol) September 14, 2021
Nelson Cruz won the award in June 2020 ‘Muhammed Ali‘as a humanitarian athlete awarded in the ESPY Awards, ensuring a contribution of one hundred thousand dollars for his foundation, which has caused an extremely positive impact in his native community, Las Matas de Santa Cruz.
It is important to note that this community is one of the most impoverished in the region in the Dominican Republic, to the point that Cruz had to grow up without access to basic services such as potable water and electricity, citizen security or quality police infrastructure. As a result, the Dominican has dedicated a significant part of his career earnings to improving the quality of life of his fellow citizens.
2021’s Roberto Clemente Award finalists are deemed as the players who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. pic.twitter.com/Bq6lIcJ9Pg
— MLB (@MLB) September 14, 2021
In the 2020 edition, the Dominican was also nominated Hanser Alberto, who now plays with the Kansas City Royals, at the time with the Baltimore Orioles. You can enjoy the games of Cruz, Alberto and all the Dominicans in Star+.
The player nominated by the Tampa Bay Rays this season is Ryan Yarbrough. Other Latinos nominated for the 2021 edition of the Roberto Clemente Award are David Peralta (Diamondbacks), Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), Salvador Pérez (Royals) and Miguel Rojas (Marlins).
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