Veteran SF Giants outfield nominated for Roberto Clemente Award

Veteran SF Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski is having another quality season but his contributions extend beyond just the field. On Monday, he was nominated for the Robert Clemente Award for his work in the clubhouse and community according to a team announcement.

Veteran SF Giants outfield nominated for Roberto Clemente Award

Every season, one player is nominated from each team in baseball in recognition of his outsized contributions both on and off the field. The Roberto Clemente Award is given to the "player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field." You can vote for the recipient here.

Of course, the award is named after the Hall of Fame outfielder who spent all 18 of his seasons in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. His play on the field was only one aspect of who he was. Off of the field, Clemente was well known for his humanitarian work. In fact, Clemente's final act was to get emergency relief to Nicaragua's capital, Managua, following an earthquake. Unfortunately, his plane crashed shortly after taking off. There were no survivors.

Yastrzemski has been with the Giants since 2019 and is currently the longest-tenured player on the roster. He has put together a nice career with San Francisco that now includes an impressive milstone at the plate. The 34-year-old outfielder has been a solid producer both at the plate and in the field.

The 2024 season has been no different. The left-handed bat has slashed .236/.309/.427 (106 wRC+) with 13 home runs, 45 RBI, and 50 runs in 409 plate appearances. This includes an 8.1 percent walk rate, 26.4 percent strikeout rate, and .190 ISO. Yastrzemski's home run total is down, but he has offset that to some degree by setting a new career-high in triples with nine. Plus, he continues to post positive marks in the field.

Not only that, but the veteran bat is a respected voice within the clubhouse and with the media. His candidness and openness are some of the reasons why members of the media rely on him for his thoughts about the state of the organization.

Off the field, Yastrzemski works with the Heart and Armor Foundation. The foundation focuses on supporting veterans and the dialogue around mental health and resilience.