Major League Baseball has unveiled the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award nominees — an annual honor recognizing players who represent the sport through integrity, community service, philanthropy, and positive contributions both on and off the field.
Fans can vote for the winner via an official MLB site, in English or Spanish, through Sunday, September 28. The fan vote will count as one vote among those cast by a select panel.
Notable Nominees & Their Initiatives
Here are some of the standout nominees and the work that’s getting them recognized:
| Player | Team | Community / Charitable Work |
|---|---|---|
| José Berríos (Blue Jays) | AL East | Runs La Makina Foundation, helping youth in Puerto Rico, later expanded programs into Canada through “El Dream”; raised nearly $4.75 million so far. |
| Pete Fairbanks (Rays) | AL East | Started Strikeouts for Ellis (in memory of his daughter) donating per strikeout; works with Ronald McDonald House; aids disaster relief; supports critically ill children. |
| Liam Hendriks (Red Sox) | AL East | Seven-time nominee; survived Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; active in cancer treatment, veterans’ causes; meets with families at Fenway Park; major financial contributions. |
| Carlos Rodón (Yankees) | AL East | Established foundation dedicated to helping couples with fertility struggles; created “Willow Grant” to assist families affected by pregnancy loss; also volunteers locally. |
| Bo Naylor (Guardians) | AL Central | Leads youth camps; supports environmental and animal welfare causes; volunteers for a zoological society. |
| Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) | AL Central | Ambassadorship for youth baseball and softball; literacy programs; involvement with chronically ill children and organizations addressing ALS. |
| Tarik Skubal (Tigers) | AL Central | Supports homeless women’s organizations; participates in youth baseball and Little League; contributes to autograph charity programs. |
| Pablo López (Twins) | AL Central | Back-to-school efforts; hospital visits; youth development; organizers for language & education programs. |
| Mike Tauchman (White Sox) | AL Central | Established fundraising for children born with cleft palate or craniofacial conditions; matching donations; hospital support. |
| Logan O’Hoppe (Angels) | AL West | Supports pediatric cancer patients; works with foundations for female and children’s health; involvement with hospitals. |
| Josh Hader (Astros) | AL West | Created Hader’s Heart Program; works with at-risk youth, foster care programs and community foundations. |
| Lawrence Butler (Athletics) | AL West | Founded L4W Foundation to empower underrepresented youth; financial education and baseball mentorship programs. |
| J.P. Crawford (Mariners) | AL West | Promotes youth baseball/softball; partners with foundations to assist underserved youth; advocates for foster care and domestic violence causes. |
| Corey Seager (Rangers) | AL West | Hosts youth hitting clinics; does back-to-school drives; supports foster care programs; invests heavily in local community events. |
| Mookie Betts (Dodgers) | NL West | Through the 5050 Foundation, works on nutrition, emotional health, financial literacy; aided wildfire victims; hospital visits; support for children. |
| Paul Skenes (Pirates) | NL Central | Commits per-strikeout donations to veterans’ causes; supports young patients; involved in military and service-oriented philanthropy. |
| Francisco Lindor (Mets) | NL East | Hurricane relief efforts; educational events; support for schools; active in hometown and Puerto Rico. |
Why the Roberto Clemente Award Matters
- It’s one of baseball’s most respected awards, honoring players who go above and beyond the game.
- Nominees are evaluated not just by their performance on the field, but also by the depth and sincerity of their off-field contributions.
- The combination of fan voting and expert panel evaluation ensures that public sentiment and measurable impact both matter.
What’s Next
- Voting continues through Sunday, September 28.
- The winner will be announced after the season concludes.
