Torii a 3-time Clemente Award nominee
MINNEAPOLIS -- Veteran outfielder Torii Hunter was named the Twins' 2015 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet, the Twins and Major League Baseball announced Monday.
Hunter is one of 30 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. It's the third time Hunter has been nominated for the award.
"It couldn't happen to a better guy," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "The things he's stood for in his tremendous career and all the community service that Torii has done, they're not only attributes on the field but off the field. We've got other people in the organization, that if they were nominated, you wouldn't blink an eye, but I don't know if we could do much better than Torii. I'm guessing that was well-received in the clubhouse when people found out he was a nominee for the Clemente Award."
Video: MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day
Hunter has supported several charity efforts throughout his career, including The Torii Hunter Project and the Heart of a Champion. He's been active in the community in each city he's played in, supporting programs in the Twin Cities, Anaheim and Detroit.
Each team nominates one player to be considered for the award. The 14th annual Roberto Clemente Day is Wednesday, and Hunter will be honored during a special pregame ceremony at Target Field. Clemente, a 15-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards, and a special tribute video will be played in ballparks.
Beginning on Wednesday, fans can vote for the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award by visiting ChevyBaseball.com. Voting ends on 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 presented by Chevrolet will be announced.