Red Sox utility man Brock Holt nominated for Roberto Clemente Award

TORONTO --- For the fourth time in the last five seasons, Red Sox utility man Brock Holt has been selected as the club’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.

Per Boston’s game notes, the award "recognizes a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field." Holt will be honored at Fenway Park prior to Wednesday’s first pitch against the [...]

TORONTO --- For the fourth time in the last five seasons, Red Sox utility man Brock Holt has been selected as the club’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.

Per Boston’s game notes, the award “recognizes a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field.” Holt will be honored at Fenway Park prior to Wednesday’s first pitch against the Giants.

“I don’t think anyone who’s nominated does this stuff for the recognition,” Holt said. “It’s nice to see that some of the things you’re doing are noticed. Any time you’re involved in something with Roberto Clemente’s name on it, it’s pretty special.”

Holt has served as the Red Sox Jimmy Fund captain for the past five seasons, leading the fundraising efforts undertaken by the club on behalf of its charity partner. His latest venture is selling t-shirts through September to promote Childhood Cancer Awareness. Holt and his wife, Lakyn, priced the shirts at $12 apiece and have sold more than 1,700 to date.

“We set out wanting to sell about 400 shirts, which would have raised about $5,000 for the Jimmy Fund,” Holt said. “Lakyn texted me today and said we’re about 300 items away from selling 2,000 – that’s about $25,000.”

Holt was acquired via trade from the Pirates – Clemente’s organization – in December 2012. The Hall of Fame outfielder’s influence was an obvious one in Pittsburgh, as Clemente broke barriers for baseball’s Hispanic players and devoted a significant amount of time to charity. His death in a 1972 plane crash came while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

“Quotes from him all over the place,” Holt said. “We learned a lot about the kind of person he was. Obviously everyone knows what kind of a baseball player he was, but off the field one of the best people ever in this game.”

Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz were back-to-back winners of the award for the Red Sox in 2010 and 2011. Fan voting at MLB.com ends Sept. 29, and the award will be presented during the World Series in October.

“What they do on a daily basis and how they go about it, it’s impressive,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Very likeable guy, and he’s also a good player. What he does off the field is amazing, and we are very proud of him.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25