With passion for giving back, Cantillo earns Clemente Award nomination

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CLEVELAND -- While spending time with kids at the Cleveland Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday, Joey Cantillo struck up a conversation with a young man wearing a Pirates shirt. Along the way, the Guardians’ lefty asked him who his favorite baseball player is.

His answer? Roberto Clemente.

Hours later, that young man was among several kids who joined Cantillo at Progressive Field, where the 26-year-old was honored as the Guardians’ 2026 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.

The Roberto Clemente Award is considered MLB’s most prestigious individual honor. Each team annually has one nominee, and it is awarded to the player who best represents baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, on and off the field. Fans can vote through Sept. 27 here.

Cantillo is honored to be Cleveland’s nominee this season given the tremendous legacy Clemente had on and off the field. The Honolulu, Hawaii, native’s nomination is emblematic of his deep passion for giving back and using his platform in a positive way.

“It's an honor," Cantillo said. "Awards like that are cool and they mean something, and it's something to be proud of for sure. But you're not going out to shoot to win an award like that, right? You're just trying to carry yourself in a way that can represent and be molded by things and people.

"Part of my upbringing and where I'm from, those are the values that are usually instilled in kids from a young age, and it's something that I try to say I do. Hopefully, we can continue to represent where I'm from and everybody.”

Cantillo has been a mainstay in the Cleveland community this year. He has served as a coach at Guardians youth baseball clinics, participated in a beach cleanup and signed autographs for free at the Cleveland Asian Festival. He was the first player to make a donation at the Guardians’ annual Giveathon.

The Giveathon supports programs including the Guardians’ Nike RBI Program, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio and baseball and softball programs within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Six dozen signed baseballs by Cantillo helped directly influence $7,000 in donations, and the Giveathon ultimately raised more than $180,000 for Cleveland Guardians Charities.

Cantillo’s visits to the Ronald McDonald House in particular are dear to his heart, as they bring together his passion for giving back with his love for cooking. Cantillo is a big foodie, and he helped prepare and serve meals to the children and their families staying at the house.

“It's fun for me. I've had a great time,” Cantillo said. “We listen to music, cook and hang out. Stuff like that is really awesome, and just the way it worked out is awesome.”

The meals have often had some Hawaiian flavor, such as loco moco and kalbi ribs, which are two of Cantillo’s personal favorites. It’s a great example that reinforces Cantillo’s urge to connect with the community in an up-close and personal way.

While his various engagements allow Cantillo to make a difference in the community, they also carry great weight for him individually. Cantillo recognizes he’s privileged to be a professional athlete. Stepping outside of his baseball bubble provides great perspective.

Among the kids Cantillo hung out with during his visit to the Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday, one has cancer and has lost a leg, and another has cancer and recently underwent radiation therapy.

“Just hearing them talk about how they go about things, it puts so many things into perspective," Cantillo said. "I think opportunities like that this year have been great for me personally, but also just something that is beneficial to all, that we're aware of those things.”