Two Straight Clemente Nods for Twins Ace López
For two years in a row, and for the third time in his career, Twins starter Pablo López has been nominated for the illustrious Roberto Clemente Award. One of Major League Baseball's most prestigious honors, the award recognizes players who embody not only excellence on the field but also outstanding character and community involvement off the field. MLB.com revealed the full list of nominees on September 15th, unveiling the candidates put forward by each ball club for 2025. For López, his second nomination not only highlights his performance as a pitcher this season but also his deep commitment to making a lasting impact off the diamond.
While we await the results that will be announced during the World Series, we can examine how this award came about and how Pablo López, whether he takes home the award or not, carries Roberto Clemente's values forward.
What is the Roberto Clemente Award?
The Roberto Clemente Award, named for Clemente in 1973, is awarded annually to one player in MLB who best demonstrates the values of the award's namesake: a role model on the field and a humanitarian off of it. So, who was Roberto Clemente, and why is this award named for him?
Born in Puerto Rico in 1934, Roberto Clemente received contract offers from the Dodgers, Braves, and Giants when he was just 17. Eventually, he signed with the Pirates, where he would play for his entire 18-year career. During his time in MLB, he collected 3,000 hits, batted .317 for his lifetime average, hit 240 home runs, appeared in 17 All-Star games, and was awarded 12 Gold Gloves for his defensive prowess. In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Clemente's character and generosity off the field truly set him apart.
"Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth."Roberto Clemente
Clemente served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1958 to 1964 as an infantryman. During his service time, his athleticism and strength enabled him to set a record for the most uninterrupted pull-ups at boot camp on Parris Island. Though less documented than his baseball career or his humanitarian work, Clemente's service to his country demonstrates the heart at the center of the man for whom the MLB award is named.
Roberto Clemente, his athletic achievements aside, is best known for his generosity and for organizing disaster relief. Clemente sponsored free baseball clinics in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries for youth who couldn't afford them. He also advocated for minority players, drawing on his own experiences enduring prejudice when breaking into MLB. His dedication to those who were less fortunate cemented not only his legacy but also his fate. In response to an earthquake in Nicaragua in December 1972, Clemente organized a relief committee that collected over $150,000 and more than 25 tons of supplies to aid the victims of the disaster. He personally accompanied the aid supplies to ensure they would reach their destination.
As the overloaded Douglas DC-7 aircraft took off from San Juan, Puerto Rico, it soon experienced a mechanical failure just off the coast of Isla Verde. The engine failure and poor maintenance of the plane led to a devastating crash into the Atlantic Ocean. All five passengers were killed, including the legendary Roberto Clemente. His body was never recovered. Clemente was just 38 years old.
"Roberto Clemente played the game of baseball with great passion. That passion could only be matched by his unrelenting commitment to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate and those in need."Manny Sanguillen (Pirates teammate)
In the aftermath of his untimely death, Clemente's legacy only continued to grow. In 1973, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously. The Commissioner's Award, created in 1971 to honor outstanding humanitarian work and philanthropy in baseball, was renamed in his honor to the Roberto Clemente Award. The first recipient of the renamed award was Detroit's Al Kaline.
Finally, in 2003, President George W. Bush awarded Clemente the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the United States' highest civilian honor. The award was presented to Roberto's widow, Vera Clemente. In less than forty years, Roberto Clemente built a legacy that continues to define Major League Baseball — a standard of service and generosity that today inspires players like Minnesota’s own Pablo López.
"The award is the embodiment of both on-field and off the field. So instantly, hearing that name, you think of the highest class, the highest level, both of performance and of making sure that you don't forget where you come from..."Pablo López
Pablo's Commitment to Charity
López's commitment to making a difference outside of baseball in Minnesota began as soon as he was traded here from Miami in 2023. It is said that one of the first things he did upon his arrival was to track down the phone number of the director of the Twins Community Fund, wasting no time in beginning his own legacy of charitable work. Pablo has been quoted as saying that education is a passion of his, as is connecting with the Venezuelan community here in Minnesota. López is known for attending as many community events as possible, making himself available and present in a way not often seen across MLB.
"Pablo Day"
The "Pablo Day" promotion at Target Field this year was used to benefit local non-profits both financially and to raise awareness. These non-profits, centered on education, youth health, and animal adoption, were the recipients of the $22,000 raised by López and his wife Kaylee's efforts, along with a special ticket package available for every home start he made in 2025. A portion of the proceeds from each package sold, available only within 48 hours of each home start López made, went to supporting these local charities.
Children's Healthcare
As the son of two doctors, healthcare is near and dear to Pablo. Every September, López visits patients at local children's hospitals to raise awareness about Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Known for being a favorite of everyone he visits, Pablo continues to connect with kids across Twins Territory who are in need of a little boost while undergoing treatments.
Youth Development
Pablo's passion for education and overall youth development stretches from the classroom to the ball field. He assists with back-to-school shopping for students in need of financial assistance and helps in Spanish classrooms, aiding students in honing their foreign language skills. More recently,
Pablo aided in the distribution of back-to-school supply kits while still on the injured list. Partnered with 15 local children, López and company packed the supply kits and gave them out to teachers in the area as a way of not only simply being helpful but as a way of saying "thank you" for their impact on children's lives.
"I remember my teachers when I was 5, 6, 7 years old. It’s such a deep, meaningful profession that they do. They can have the deepest impact in your life. So that’s one of my passions."Pablo López
López has also spearheaded efforts to help develop young baseball and softball players in the community. Through his connection with the Twins Community Fund, he has helped coach at adaptive wheelchair clinics and supported the first Girls 14u Baseball Nationals team in 2025. In addition to his in-person work with young athletes, Pablo committed to donating $1,000 for every strikeout he tallies this season. Through September 19, he has donated $7,100 in 13 games pitched.
Values Lived Out
Voting for the Roberto Clemente Award is open to all fans as of September 15, and the winner will be announced during the World Series this fall. The Twins have a deserving candidate and, if selected, Pablo would be the first Twin to win the award since Nelson Cruz brought home the honor in 2021.
López would be just the fifth Twin in history to receive the award, the four previous recipients being Cruz, Kirby Puckett (1996), Dave Winfield (1994), and Rod Carew (1977). The St. Louis Cardinals, for those who are curious, have the most team wins of the award with six.
López's continued commitment to supporting local children's hospitals, promoting youth education, and developing youth baseball and softball players shines as the most outstanding example of why he embodies the Roberto Clemente Award. Whether he is visiting patients, teaching kids how to pitch, or helping students practice their linguistic skills, Pablo López is living out the values that Roberto Clemente laid down so many decades ago. While Twins fans undoubtedly believe Pablo should bring home the hardware this year, to be selected as a finalist multiple times in one's career is an honor in and of itself.