Gordon is Marlins' Clemente Award nominee

NEW YORK -- Dee Gordon's hard-nosed play and the professionalism the All-Star second baseman displays has not gone unnoticed. The 27-year-old on Monday was named the Marlins' nominee for the 2015 Robert Clemente Award, presented by Chevrolet.

The prestigious award recognizes players who best represent baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.

Miami acquired Gordon from the Dodgers at the Winter Meetings, and the speedster has made an impact. He is among the National League leaders for the batting title, hits and stolen bases.

"You can't have a bad day around Dee," manager Dan Jennings said. "He brings so much energy to the park every day."

Each of the 30 MLB teams nominate one player to be considered for the Roberto Clemente Award in an effort to pay tribute to Clemente's achievements and character by recognizing current players who truly understand the value of helping others.

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

On Wednesday, fans are encouraged to participate in the process of selecting the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award on MLB.com. Voting ends Oct. 9, and participating fans will be automatically registered for a chance to win a trip to the 2015 World Series, where the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award will be announced.

The concept of honoring players for their philanthropic work was created in 1971 as the "Commissioner's Award," but was renamed to the "Roberto Clemente Award" in 1973 in honor of the Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Each September since 2002, Major League Baseball has commemorated Roberto Clemente Day.