Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is the Twins' finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award, an award given each year to a player "who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement."
It's the second time in his career Morneau has been nominated for the award.
Morneau is active in several charities in the Minneapolis area, according to John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Among them, according to Shipley, are the Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, the Salvation Army, Ronald McDonald House and Fields for Kids.
Each of the 30 teams in baseball submits a finalist for the Clemente Award, and online voting comprises part of the final vote to give the award. The winner will be announced during the World Series.
From Morneau via Shipley:
"Something I take a lot of pride in, hopefully, is not being seen as someone who's always taking," Morneau said. "We're given so much in this game, and you hope you can make a difference in other people's lives the way your life has been affected."
Other high-profile nominees across baseball for the Clemente Award included former Twin and current Colorado Rockies outfielder Michael Cuddyer, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and 2011 National League Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, Seattle Mariners pitcher and 2010 American League Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez, and Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarhty.
A full list of nominees can be found here at HardballTalk.
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