In a red suit, Nelson Cruz sat between Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred and Roberto Clemente’s son Luis before Game 2 of the World Series. A month earlier, the 41-year-old was nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award for the second straight year and the third time in his 17-year career. It’s the highest individual honor a major leaguer can receive, given annually to the player who, according to the league’s definition of the award, “best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
He was there at Minute Maid Park in Houston to be recognized officially for his humanitarian work and charity BoomStick 23 Foundation.