Major League Baseball announced today that Rockies’ shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is the team’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to a Major League player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field.
The award was established to honor the legacy of the former Pittsburgh Pirates’ great, a 12-time all-star who died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve in 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
Tulo will be honored as the Rockies Roberto Clemente Award recipient at a Coors Field pregame ceremony Thursday.
“Troy represents all that we believe in as an organization both on and off the field,” said Rockies owner Dick Monfort in a statement. “His leadership qualities and compassion for others extends into our community and beyond.”
