Carlos Correa Named Twins Nominee For 2023 Roberto Clemente Award

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – Major League Baseball today announced that shortstop Carlos Correa was named the Minnesota Twins’ 2023 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One, baseball’s most prestigious individual honor for Major Leaguers.

The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One is the annual recognition of a Major League player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. As part of the annual program, each MLB Club nominates one player to be considered for the league-wide Award in tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character.

From the moment he arrived in Minnesota, Correa established his desire to do holistic good, on the field, in the clubhouse and in the numerous communities that comprise Twins Territory. In 2019, Correa and his wife, Daniella, co-founded the Correa Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has two main goals: providing unique experiences to improve the emotional wellbeing of kids and their families, and offering financial support to help allay the indirect and non-medical costs associated with a pediatric cancer diagnosis. The couple quickly continued that mission in Minnesota, forming a relationship with Children’s Minnesota, one of the best children’s hospitals in the country, to connect with and assist children and their families. Carlos and Daniella have visited Children’s Minnesota, meeting with patients receiving pediatric cancer treatment and outpatient care at the Cancer and Blood Disorders Clinic. Every month, the Correas host two Heroes of the Month at a Twins home game; the heroes are pediatric cancer patients selected by the Foundation who exemplify bravery, hope and outstanding courage. Each hero and their family attends batting practice, watches the game from the Thomson Reuters Champions Club and potentially meets Carlos.

In addition to his direct work with childhood cancer patients and their families, Correa and his foundation partnered with the Minnetonka Baseball Association in 2022 for the “Batting Against Childhood Cancer” campaign, engaging youth baseball players to raise awareness and $50,000 – which the Correas matched for a total of $100,000 – to benefit cancer patients at Children’s Minnesota. Since Carlos joined the Twins, the Correa Family Foundation has provided financial support to more than 50 families to cover essential everyday costs while their children receive cancer treatment at Children’s Minnesota.

In 2023, Correa partnered with local company Gray Duck Spirits on a limited-edition bottle featuring collectible Correa baseball cards, with proceeds benefitting the Minnesota Twins Community Fund. The Correas have been ardent supporters of the Twins Community Fund and its mission to enrich local communities through baseball. Carlos and Daniella have provided generous financial support to the MTCF and participated in fundraising events like TwinsFest and other Twins community initiatives, including the organization-wide Minnesota Twins Week of Service.

“Carlos Correa is a force for positive change in every aspect of his life, from his leadership in our clubhouse to his generous spirit and devotion to uplifting the lives of those less fortunate,” Twins President & CEO Dave St. Peter said. “From the moment he first set foot in Twins Territory, Carlos and his family dedicated themselves to the betterment of both our organization and to the broader community. We’re honored and humbled to nominate him for this prestigious award named after his fellow Puerto Rican countryman, who gave so much to the sport of baseball and to the people around him.”

This is Correa’s first time being nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award in his nine-year major league career. Four past Twins nominees have been named winner of the award – Rod Carew (1977), Dave Winfield (1994), Kirby Puckett (1996) and Nelson Cruz (2021). The Twins will recognize him prior to the Friday, September 22 home game.

Friday, September 15 marks the 22nd annual Roberto Clemente Day presented by Capital One, which was established by MLB to honor Clemente’s legacy as a humanitarian and to formally acknowledge Club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards and a customized tribute video to Roberto will be shown in all MLB ballparks on Roberto Clemente Day as well as on MLB Network, MLB.com, Club sites and MLB Social Media Platforms.

The league-wide winner of the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One will be honored at the 2023 World Series following selection by a blue-ribbon panel. This panel includes representatives from the Commissioner’s Office, Capital One, MLB-affiliated networks (MLB Network, FOX Sports, ESPN and TBS), MLB.com, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as Roberto’s children, Enrique, Luis and Roberto Clemente, Jr. Beginning today, fans can vote for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One via MLBTogether.com/clemente21 (in both English and Spanish). The site, which will feature bios of each of the nominees, will allow fans to vote until the end of the season on Sunday, October 1st. The winner of the fan vote will count as one vote among those cast by the blue-ribbon panel.

The concept of honoring Major League players for their philanthropic work was created in 1971 as the “Commissioner’s Award.” The recognition was renamed to the “Roberto Clemente Award” in 1973 tribute to Clemente following his passing.