DENVER -- Adam Wainwright is the Cardinals’ nominee for the 2019 Roberto Clemente Award for his efforts with Big League Impact, the foundation he and his brother Trey founded in '13.

For Wainwright, being recognized is a huge compliment and speaks to the impact he’s been able to have in helping others. Big League Impact provides basic needs -- including food, clean water, medical care and shelter -- to those in need across the globe.

“The legacy that Roberto left baseball was that our lives off the field are just as important as on the field,” Wainwright said. “That’s the standard I’m trying to live up to, realizing that we have tremendous platforms and getting the most out of that. Going out and doing good in the community is something that’s always been important to me, but I feel like it’s a requirement of somebody that’s been given the platform.”

Wainwright has started many fundraising campaigns as well. His ALL WIN campaign involves teammates and fans making pledges to provide healthy meals across the St. Louis region and to create an Ag-tech program at Normandy High School. Waino’s World Fantasy Football Draft allows him to work with other Major League players and their charitable aspirations. That’s one of his favorite parts about his philanthropy work -- seeing players use their platforms to help others.

“That’s one of the biggest missions for me, to help other players realize their platforms and to help them understand and figure out what their passions are,” Wainwright said. “What makes them cry? What makes them stay up at night on the pillow just thinking about, ‘How can I help?’ You get players involved in different things.

“What really hit home for me is the basic essential needs. Food, water, shelter programs, those are the things that really stick to me, that I really feel like I have to help [with]. So, helping other players find what they have to help with has been fun for me.”

Wainwright’s other favorite part of his work off the field is seeing the direct impact it makes in the lives of others.

“I’ve always made it a point, when I do something abroad or whatever, to go see it and be a part of that,” Wainwright said. “To experience what that would have looked like before, and then see the results afterward. And then getting other people involved in the vision of that has been one of my favorite parts of this also. Taking players to Haiti or the Dominican [Republic] to show them what they’ve helped to accomplish has been a real fun thing for me.”

Wainwright will be recognized at Busch Stadium on Wednesday in a pregame ceremony as part of Roberto Clemente Day. The league-wide winner will be selected via a blue-ribbon panel and fan vote. Cards catcher Yadier Molina won the 2018 Roberto Clemente Award.

“We’ve got a really good group of guys who are very sincere about utilizing their platform,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. “Being a nominee on this team is pretty special in and of itself. But Adam’s very deserving. Yadi won it last year, and there’s no reason why we can’t have back-to-back winners. There’s a lot of great guys in this game, across the league, that do a lot of wonderful things. We appreciate what they have and share with others, but Adam sets the bar for what that looks like. He’s a first-class human being and man of faith that takes his platform seriously. Very well-deserving.”

Wieters still needs explosive moment

Cardinals catcher Matt Wieters, dealing with a left calf strain, is still waiting on the last box to be checked in his progress before returning to the field: Explosive movement out of the batter’s box or on the bases. He did some baseball activity at Coors Field on Wednesday, including running, and came back with positive reports.

“He’s getting there,” Shildt said. “It’s one of those deals where it takes some time. Came through with positives, just trying to get that first initial breakout and feel comfortable doing it. When he gets that hurdle behind him, he’ll be ready to go.”