This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ST. PETERSBUG -- Zack Gelof struggled to hold back the tears when he heard the news.
Not long after he became a big leaguer in 2023, Gelof quickly learned how special it is just to be considered for the Roberto Clemente Award, widely considered baseball’s most prestigious honor. Earlier this week, Gelof found out that he is this year’s A’s nominee for the award.
“It means so much,” Gelof said. “You look at Roberto Clemente and all he means to the baseball community being from Puerto Rico and all he did off the field in addition to 3,000 hits and all that stuff. It’s one of the biggest honors in sports. I’m super proud of that.
“It’s not why you try to give back to the community, but to be recognized, I try to take a step back and appreciate it. It’s a really cool honor and something I will be super proud of.”
The Roberto Clemente Award is given out annually to recognize the MLB player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field.
Gelof earned this nomination through his many efforts to give back. Following his rookie season, Zack and his brother, Jake, a prospect in the Dodgers’ Minor League system, created the Gelof Brothers Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to provide resources and assistance to support the overall development of youth in the brothers’ home state of Delaware.
“I always wanted to do something like that,” Gelof said. “Starting a foundation or always giving to the community where I grew up, it kind of just evolved from there. I realized the window for a baseball career is so short, so why not start it right away when I feel like I can do something good? My brother and I came together and thought it was a great idea to start something really cool. We’re super proud of it, and we’ll look to keep evolving it in different avenues.”
Every offseason, the brothers have hosted a youth sports camp at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, Del., where Zack attended from 2015-18. They also plan to host a turkey drive in the southern Delaware area this Thanksgiving.
“I’ve always been passionate about giving back,” Gelof said. “Especially to the age range of the camps we do around 8-12. That’s where I feel like you’re starting to come up with role models and who you want to become in life. When I was around that age, I looked up to the big leaguers I watched and thought I wanted to be like that. Once I got to cross paths with some big leaguers growing up, I always looked up to them and just felt like, if they could do it, I could do it. And it’s not just being a big leaguer, but knowing you can play college sports or do anything you put your mind to.”
Going forward, Gelof envisions part of his foundation’s evolution as branching out into other places such as the Bay Area (where he spent his first two seasons with the A’s), West Sacramento (the team’s current home base) and Las Vegas (where the A’s are set to relocate to in 2028).
“I’m looking specifically with my fiancé to see how we can give back in communities other than just where I grew up at,” Gelof said. “Using the platform in the Bay Area and West Coast to do more with it, and then also use the platform for guys in the locker room and other clubhouses to raise some money for some good. I’m balancing that with also wanting to be the best player on the field as well.”
In addition to putting together his best season yet in the Majors, Gelof has jumped at every opportunity possible to help the A’s make an impact in the community this year. The list of events he’s partaken in includes appearances at Lichen Elementary School, UC Davis Children’s Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital and Special Olympics Northern California in Sacramento, as well as Gigi’s Playhouse in Las Vegas.
For Armed Forces Day in May, Gelof organized an auction of game-used cleats, batting gloves and other memorabilia, with the proceeds going to Operation: Care and Comfort. OCC provides essential support and comfort to U.S. service members. Gelof also matched those proceeds.
Gelof will also be making a $10,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Sacramento, and he has hosted kids for a batting practice meet-and-greet and provided concession vouchers.