Archer nominated for Clemente Award

ST. PETERSBURG -- Major League Baseball and Chevrolet announced Monday that Chris Archer has been named the Rays' 2015 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet.

Wednesday marks the 14th annual Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente's legacy and to officially recognize local club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award.

Archer is one of the 30 club finalists for the annual award, which recognizes a Major League Baseball player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement. The award pays tribute to Clemente's achievements and character by recognizing current players who truly understand the value of helping others.

Prior to Wednesday's game against the Yankees, the Rays will hold their Roberto Clemente Day celebration at Tropicana Field. Staff and Rays players will don Roberto Clemente Day T-shirts and all fans who donate a canned food item to Feeding Tampa Bay at the Tropicana Field gates will receive the T-shirt. Archer, who is scheduled to pitch on Wednesday, will be recognized pregame on Thursday.

"I'm thankful and honored to be the Roberto Clemente Award nominee for an organization that is so active in the community," Archer said. "Clemente embodied everything that is great about the game of baseball. To be spoken of in the same breath as him is indescribable."