*Photo from Dodgers Way*
One of the most important awards in MLB has been awarded in the middle of the World Series. Los Angeles Dodgers 3B Justin Turner has won the 2022 Roberto Clemente Award, according to an announcement by MLB on Monday.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said on Monday that "This is one of my favorite days on the baseball calendar. It is baseball's highest honor to get the Roberto Clemente Award, because it demonstrates the bond that exists between our players and the communities where we play."
The award is considered the most prestigious individual award in MLB, and is given to the player who "best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field." The winner is determined by Manfred, the children of Clemente, former players, journalists, and fans. Every team submits a nominee for the award.
Turner takes home the award this year for the first time in his career, after being nominated by the Dodgers for the 5th time. Turner is the 3rd Dodgers player to take home the award, joining infielder Steve Garvey in 1981 and starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw in 2012.
In a press conference on Monday, Turner said that "I think when you think about baseball and the history and all the great accolades that can be achieved on the field, this is one that stands out above all of them, for me. Because it's a way that my wife and I have the opportunity to give back in the community, to utilize our platform in a meaningful, positive way."
In 2016, Turner and his wife Kourtney founded the Justin Turner foundation, which supports homeless veterans, children and families battling life altering disease and illness, and youth baseball organizations. The Dream Center renamed their food bank after Justin and Kourtney, which provides supplies to more than 60 food banks in Greater Los Angeles.
Turner's foundation also holds an annual golf tournament and supports AM 570 Radio's Veterans Day radio-a-thon, which raised over $650,000 last year. He and Kourtney have frequently visited patients at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Turner said of his charitable work that "I feel like I've always felt like it's a responsibility for me to help our younger guys kind of realize their platform and how much of an impact they can have. I mean, obviously our No. 1 goal is to help as many people as we can, but I think No. 2 is to help our younger guys realize and grow and start their foundations, and hopefully, impact just as many people."
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