Padres insider highlights Manny Machado & Yu Darvish as "most charitable players" on Friars in light of Salvador Perez's Roberto Clemente Award win
On Monday, the MLB announced that Salvador Perez is the winner of the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award. The veteran catcher of the Kansas City Royals was selected for the prestigeous award because of his significant contributions for both his team, as well as various communities in his native Venezeula.
While Perez is undeniably deserving of the honor, San Diego Padres insiders Ben Higgins and Steven Woods spoke about Manny Machado as an excellent choice for the award as well.
In the latest episode of "Ben and Woods" on 97.3 The Fan in San Diego, the two hosts spoke about everything that Machado has done for his community.
"Manny has really done a ton over the years, he has added to his community with give-backs and responsibilities, and has become a truly important member of the San Diego community. It's something to be proud of, just being nominated for that award is terrific [2:27:09]," Higgins said of Machado.
It's not just Manny Machado who has made a name for himself for his philanthropic work in and around the San Diego area, but also veteran pitcher Yu Darvish. According to co-host Steven Woods, the duo are among the most active when giving back to the community.
"I love when we played our tier one baseball this year. If we won, we donated $100 to the Padres' Peter Siegler Foundation and there are only two Padres that match any donation they get, and it's Manny and Yu Darvish. Two of my favorite players obviously and two of the most charitable players that the Padres have right now [2:27:45]," Woods said of the pair.
Last year's Roberto Clemente Award nominee for the San Diego Padres was relief pitcher Tim Hill, who is currently battling in the World Series with the New York Yankees. Given the amount of charitable work that Manny Machado does, it would be unsurprising to see him nominated again for the award in the near future.
The Roberto Clemente Award has become one of the most prestigious honors among players
Named after the legendary Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, the Roberto Clemente Award is a way to carry forward his legacy of helping those in need.
The iconic outfielder, whose philanthropy knew no bounds, passed away in a plane crash while delivering supplies to survivors of an earthquake in Nicaragua in 1972.
"Just being a nominee is an incredible honor that a lot of players look forward to. Now getting a chance to be a Roberto Clemente Award winner, it's tough to describe," 2022 winner Aaron Judge said of the award.
The award is presented to those who best identify with the spirit of the game. Not only do the nominees perform at an elite level, but also make a positive impact on the community around them.
This truly is one of the awards that is an honor to simply be nominated for. Even though Manny Machado did not win, his impact has not been overlooked.