Marlins' Dee Gordon, Rays' Chris Archer named Roberto Clemente Award nominees
Miami Marlins All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon and Tampa Bay Rays All-Star right-hander Chris Archer are nominees for the Roberto Clemente Award.
Per Major League Baseball, the annual award acknowledges the player who best represents the game through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement.
Each club nominates a player who understands the value of helping others to pay tribute to Clemente's achievements and character.
It marks the first selection for both players. Gordon is in his first season with the Marlins, while Archer is in his third full year with the Rays.
Archer focuses much of his efforts on helping underserved youth, establishing the Archway Foundation to empower young people to fulfill their dreams. It sponsors two youth baseball teams that must also participate in required readings and community service projects. The foundation also donates to Raleigh-area nonprofits. During the holiday season, it provides food and gifts to local families in need.
The 26-year-old also teamed up with Good Sports, Inc., a nonprofit to provide athletic equipment to disadvantaged youth around the country. He also frequently visits All Children's hospital, area high schools, foster homes and the Pinellas Juvenile Detention Center. Archer reads with young children as part of the "Reading with the Rays" program and heads the annual Big Brothers, Big Sisters Bowl for Kids' Sake event.
"I'm thankful and honored to be the Roberto Clemente Award nominee for an organization that is so active in the community," Archer said in a statement. "Clemente embodied everything that is great about the game of baseball. To be spoken of in the same breath as him is indescribable."
Fan voting will begin on Wednesday -- Roberto Clemente Day. Jimmy Rollins and Paul Konerko were last year's recipients, the first time the award went to two players. The winner will be announced at the World Series.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
