Major League Baseball today announced that right-handed pitcher Pablo López has been named the Minnesota Twins’ 2026 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One, baseball’s most prestigious individual honor for major leaguers. This is López’s third consecutive nomination with the Twins and fourth of his nine-year career (he was the Miami Marlins’ nominee in 2022).
The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One is the annual recognition of a major league player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. As part of the annual program, each MLB club nominates one player to be considered for the league-wide award in tribute to Clemente’s achievements and character.
“Like Roberto Clemente before him, Pablo López exemplifies humanity, compassion and the best of our game,” said Twins Executive Vice President, General Manager Jeremy Zoll. “Even in a year when injury prevented him from pitching, Pablo’s commitment to others – from teammates to those less fortunate – never wavered. His integrity, generosity and leadership make our clubhouse, our organization and our communities better every day.”
Twins Fans – Vote for Pablo
Fans can vote for Pablo López now through Sunday, September 27 at MLBTogether.com/clementeaward (site available in English and Spanish). The fan vote will count as one vote among a blue-ribbon panel that includes representatives from the Commissioner’s Office, Capital One, MLB-affiliated networks, MLB.com, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Roberto’s children, Enrique, Luis and Roberto Clemente, Jr.
The leaguewide winner of the Roberto Clemente Award will be honored at the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One. Four past Twins nominees have been named winner of the Roberto Clemente Award: Rod Carew (1977), Dave Winfield (1994), Kirby Puckett (1996) and Nelson Cruz (2021).
A Community Champion from Day One
Pablo López’s passion for serving others – especially youth – predates his career in Minnesota, but his unparalleled commitment to communities across Twins Territory and Venezuela sets him apart as a singular leader. One of López’s first acts when acquired by the Twins in January 2023 was connecting with the Minnesota Twins Community Fund (MTCF), kickstarting his charitable involvement with the club. In nearly four full seasons since, he has continuously used his platform to improve the lives of others and uplift those around him; indeed, while his excellence on the mound when healthy has made him a fan favorite and an All-Star, López’s true impact lies in his extraordinary character.
Undeterred by Injury
López has not pitched in 2026 after undergoing right elbow surgery in February. Rather than step away while rehabilitating, he has remained a constant presence for the team, home and road – in the clubhouse, the dugout and the community. López has served as an interpreter and mentor for Spanish-speaking players; shadowed the club’s bullpen catcher, pitching coach and manager of baseball technology; contributed on Twins broadcasts; and consistently brought his smile and positivity to community outreach events.
Supporting Local Children’s Hospitals
López’s ongoing support of local children’s hospitals is inspired by his late parents – both doctors – and his decision at age 16 to choose baseball over medical school. Now achieving his passion at the game’s highest level, healthcare remains close to Pablo’s heart; every September, he honors Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by visiting patients at Children’s Minnesota and M Health Fairview. López is a favorite of patients, appearing on Children’s Minnesota’s Star Studio TV network to play games and teach kids about pitching techniques.
Empowering Youth Through Education
Inspired by his lifelong enthusiasm for learning (evidenced by his medical school acceptance at age 16 and his fluency in four languages), López jumps at every chance to support students. In each of his four years with the Twins, he has taken underserved students back-to-school shopping to equip them with the supplies needed to be successful. Pablo has also visited local high school Spanish classes; earlier this year, he participated in a video call with a Spanish immersion elementary school in rural Williston, North Dakota, 620 miles from Target Field. He provides content for the Twins’ mental health awareness programming and for a local nonprofit’s curriculum that teaches kids how to maintain a positive mindset and navigate setbacks. Through his 2024 “Pablo Day” initiative, López leveraged his Target Field starts to bring financial support and awareness to local nonprofits representing causes he cares about: youth development, education, animal adoption and children’s health.
Empowering Youth Through Baseball and Softball
López has been a prominent supporter of the Twins Community Fund and its youth development programs. In addition to generous financial support, Pablo has inspired team captains as a speaker at the Twins High School Leadership Academy; distributed free gloves to kids in Minneapolis; coached young athletes at MTCF’s adaptive wheelchair softball clinic; and has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Twins’ Girls Baseball Youth Teams, welcoming them for an on-field experience and streaming their tournament games. López frequently looks for ways to support MTCF activities, and his unique ability to connect with young people has made Twins Territory youth feel welcome and celebrated on baseball and softball fields alike.
Enriching his Venezuelan Roots
From Miami to Minnesota, López has remained committed to his Venezuelan roots. In 2025, he funded a school supply donation event benefitting students and teachers from the Twin Cities’ Venezuelan community (among others) as he worked to eliminate the supply gap educators are too often forced to cover through their own personal finances. This spring, Pablo joined the MTCF for a recess takeover at Minneapolis elementary school, connecting with Venezuelan kids and celebrating Diá del Niño. Following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June, Pablo leveraged his social media platform to raise awareness and funds, and he designated his MTCF charitable giving to support three organizations leading relief efforts. During the Twins’ July road trip to Cleveland, Pablo teamed up with Guardians players and coaches for a special autograph signing event raising funds for Venezuelan earthquake relief efforts.
(info courtesy of Twins)
