ARLINGTON -- Cole Hamels is now with the Cubs, but his community work in Texas has not been forgotten. Hamels, who was traded to Chicago on July 27, is the Rangers' nominee for the 2018 Roberto Clemente Award.
The award is the annual recognition of a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. This is the third straight year Hamels has been nominated by the Rangers.
"Cole is a most worthy candidate for this prestigious award, and we felt it was very appropriate that he remain our 2018 nominee," Rangers COO Neil Leibman said. "We thank Cole and Heidi and The Hamels Foundation for the impact they have made."
Hamels and his foundation will be honored in a pregame ceremony Wednesday on Roberto Clemente Day. The Hamels Foundation COO Kathy Greene will accept the award on Cole Hamels' behalf. 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.
• All-time Clemente Award winners
During his career, Hamels has donated over $20.6 million to educational and nonprofit organizations both domestically and internationally, in the hopes of making a difference in a child's life. This past offseason, Cole and his wife Heidi gifted their 32,000-square-foot home on Table Rock Lake, Mo., including more than 100 acres, to Camp Barnabas.
The Hamels Foundation, founded in 2009 by Cole and Heidi Hamels, provides hope and a brighter future for children by providing financial support for educational opportunities. The Hamels Foundation works to empower children in inner-city schools in the United States as well as rural Malawi, Africa.
In addition to The Hamels Foundation, Hamels has personally donated $1.1 million to various nonprofit organizations. During his three years with the Rangers, Hamels collaborated with the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation in underwriting classrooms at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy and hosted military personnel from area bases as part of his Operation 35 program, underwriting the total cost of $36,000.
The league-wide winner of the Roberto Clemente Award, who will be announced during the 2018 World Series, will be selected among the group of nominees via a blue-ribbon panel that includes individuals connected to the game.
The blue-ribbon panel includes Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred, representatives from MLB-affiliated networks (MLB Network, FOX Sports, ESPN and TBS) and MLB.com, as well as Vera Clemente (the late Roberto's wife and MLB Goodwill Ambassador).
Beginning on Roberto Clemente Day, fans can vote for the overall winner of the Roberto Clemente Award via a dedicated website from Wednesday until September 18. The winner of the fan vote will count as one vote among those cast by the blue-ribbon panel. Fans are encouraged to vote here.