Tyson Ross & the Roberto Clemente Award
Credit: USA Today Sports
Despite being on the disabled list virtually the whole season Tyson Ross was recognized as one of the 30 nominees for the Roberto Clemente Award. The nominee came Tuesday afternoon by Major League Baseball.
The Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Chevrolet, is awarded annually to a player who truly understands the value of helping others in the community. The player also shows unjust positive character and “exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.”
The veteran right-hander was chosen by the Padres and recognized for his contributions off the field in the community with Ross Rotation. Ross hosts, funds and plans a youth event every month and helps the children at the Jackie Robinson YMCA and the Monarch School for children affected by homelessness. He is also involved with other youth clinics and animal welfare within the San Diego county.
Despite not being in the rotation himself, his contributions to the community and making a positive impact with his involvement has earned him the nomination. Justifiably so as anyone who has the pleasure to speak to Ross knows the kind of character he exudes.
Last season, Ross finished with an ERA of 3.26 and 212 strikeouts. He looked to be poised for a huge 2016 season. In the first and only game he pitched this season, he allowed seven earned runs while pitching just five innings in the Padres 15-0 loss to the Dodgers. His shoulder injury has lingered and the year was a total loss for the big man.
His progress in rehab has been a day-to-day progression and it can only get better from there. Only time will tell if rest is enough to heal Tyson Ross. No surgery was performed and his mysteriously ailment could easily linger. He is expected to throw a few in a bullpen session later this week, but a return this season is doubtful. He might throw an inning or two in very late September, but he would have to have no further setbacks.
The Roberto Clemente Day Logo will be on the bases Wednesday. Official dugout lineup cards will be used and a special tribute video will be played in ballparks around the nation. Clubs will introduce their nominees Wednesday as part of the Roberto Clemente Day ceremonies during home games. The visiting clubs will wait till they are at their respective home stadium to introduce their nominees before another September home game.
Fans can participate in helping pick the winner by posting the nominee’s voting hashtags to MLB’s official social media accounts on Twitter, @MLB and Facebook with #VoteRoss. Voting ends Oct. 9 and the winner is announced at the World Series. So get out there and support Tyson Ross as he has done for many underprivileged children in our city.
The Roberto Clemente Award was previously known as the “Commissioner’s Award”, but was renamed in 1973 to honor the Pirates right fielder. Clemente was a 12-time All-Star and Pirates Hall of Fame outfielder who died in 1972 in a plane crash. He was attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua on New Year’s Eve.
The first player to ever win the award was Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants and the most recent player was Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburg Pirates. The last pitcher to win the award was Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers in 2012. The last Padres player to win the award was none only than Mr. Padre himself, Tony Gwynn back in 1999. No player has ever received the award more than once. Help Tyson get recognized and use the hashtags. Go Padres!
Jolene Nacapuy is currently the media operations director of Proud Digital Media. She graduated in 2016 from the University of La Verne with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. She is a small town Hawaii native with high-energy and motivation, with experience in writing hard and breaking news, features, commentary’s and sports articles. She has written articles and taken photos for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She has served as an assistant sports editor, sports editor and editor in chief of the Campus Times and also written for HerCampus La Verne. She has also contributed for Lakers Nation and Dodgers Nation. Jolene is a big sports fan and when she’s not working on her next story, she’s at a sports event.