ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Major League Baseball announced that Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins has been named the club’s 2026 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the Rays will join Major League Baseball in celebrating the humanitarian legacy of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, centered around the annual Roberto Clemente Day and baseball’s most prestigious individual honor, the Roberto Clemente Award.
Roberto Clemente Day was established by Major League Baseball in recognition of the Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes the major league player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions, both on and off the field. Each year, all 30 MLB Clubs nominate one player to be considered for the league-wide award in tribute to Clemente’s legacy.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins has demonstrated a deep commitment to serving others and making a lasting impact in his community.
Through his performance campaigns, Mullins prioritizes his philanthropic commitment by helping nonprofit organizations sustain programs that directly give back to the individuals and groups they serve. This season, Mullins pledged $150 to Burg Baseball for each stolen base he records. Burg Baseball is a youth baseball league in St. Petersburg, Florida, committed to removing financial barriers for underserved youth to play baseball. Mullins has also pledged $50 to Water Mission for each of his hits this season. Water Mission is a global engineering nonprofit that builds safe water solutions in developing countries. With Mullins’ campaigns and matching donations from the Rays Up Foundation, Burg Baseball and Water Mission are each projected to receive $20,000 in total donations this season.
Mullins consistently proves his devotion to community support through memorable experiences at the ballpark, volunteerism, and youth mentorship.
Before every Monday home game, the Rays host players and coaches from Buddy Baseball, A League of Their Own, and St. Petersburg Challenger League as part of the Magic Monday program presented by Union Home Mortgage. These non-competitive recreational leagues serve individuals with unique abilities throughout the Tampa Bay community. The participants attend batting practice and form a high-five tunnel as the Rays take the field for the game. Mullins regularly spends time autographing baseballs, taking photos, and making a point to connect with each individual.
As Mullins navigates life as an athlete with Crohn's disease, a chronic gastrointestinal disease, he also supports children facing serious illnesses. Before every Tuesday home game at Tropicana Field, the Rays host a child from Make-A-Wish Southern Florida or the Children’s Dream Fund at the ballpark as part of a longstanding program.
Tuesday’s Champion, presented by RIPA, invites children served by these organizations, along with their families, to be on the field during batting practice, where they can meet and interact with Rays players and coaches. The children selected for the program are battling life-threatening illnesses. Mullins takes time on each occasion to share special moments with children facing serious challenges, providing encouragement, compassion, and personal connection.
Mullins and his wife, Erika, volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in St. Petersburg, which keeps families close to their children while receiving treatment in pediatric hospitals. With teammates, Mullins decorated snack bags, wrote words of encouragement, served lunch to resident families, and played wiffle ball with the children, helping provide a sense of home and normalcy.
The couple also participated in Rays on the Runway, a charity fashion show featuring children with life-threatening illnesses paired with Rays players and significant others to model clothes on a runway. The event strives to give these brave children a fun moment in the spotlight while raising funds and awareness for those served by the Children’s Dream Fund in West Central Florida.
For the Rays annual Jackie Robinson Day in April, the Rays hosted students from Poynter Institute’s Write Field Program, an initiative that supports African American and Hispanic middle and high school students to become stronger writers and high-achieving scholars. The students had an opportunity to interview Mullins, during which he shared advice on navigating life’s challenges and developing the skills to become a successful leader.
Mullins’ mission off the field includes leading by example and serving his community, making him an excellent candidate for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award.
As the Rays nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, Mullins received $7,500 from MLB Charities to direct toward a cause of his choice. Mullins and his family have chosen the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Central & Northeastern Florida Chapter. The foundation’s mission is to find a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improve the quality of life for those living with the diseases.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, bases and dugout lineup cards across the league will feature the Roberto Clemente Day logo, and a tribute video will air in all ballparks, as well as on MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV, club sites, and MLB social media platforms.
The league-wide winner of the Roberto Clemente Award will be honored during the 2026 World Series following selection by 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 Clemente’s children, Enrique, Luis, and Roberto Clemente Jr.
The award originated in 1971 as the “Commissioner’s Award” and was renamed in 1973 to honor Roberto Clemente following his passing while delivering earthquake relief supplies to Nicaragua on Dec. 31, 1972.
Beginning Sept. 14, fans are encouraged to vote for one player who best embodies Clemente's legacy of giving and is most deserving of this prestigious honor. Voting ends on Sunday, Sept. 27, and the winner of the fan vote will count as one vote among those cast by the panel. To vote for Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins, visit mlbtogether.com/clementeaward.