"Roberto Clemente Award Presented to Royals Catcher Salvador Perez"
Salvador Perez, the All-Star catcher for the Kansas City Royals, was announced as the winner of the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award on Monday.
This prestigious award is given to a Major League Baseball player who embodies the spirit of the game, displays good sportsmanship, and makes significant contributions to their team and community.
Perez, who is the first Royals player to receive this honor, will be presented with the award during a press conference before Game 3 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
The Royals nominated Perez for his exceptional work in promoting healthy and active communities in his hometown of Valencia, Venezuela, and in Kansas City.
A nine-time All-Star and former World Series MVP, Perez had an impressive season with a batting average of .271, 27 home runs, and 104 RBIs. However, the Royals were eliminated by the Yankees in the American League Division Series.
The Roberto Clemente Award was established in 1973 to honor the legacy of Clemente, the first player from the Caribbean and Latin America to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Each year, a panel of journalists and former players, along with Commissioner Rob Manfred and Clemente's three children, select the recipient.
In 2023, the award was presented to New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge.