Kyle Tucker honored with Roberto Clemente Award nomination

HOUSTON – Kyle Tucker has accomplished quite a bit during his first seven years in the majors. The Astros’ three-time All-Star is one of the best right fielders in baseball with an impressive resume. He has won a Gold Glove for defensive excellence, a Silver Slugger for his work at the plate, and a World Series ring.

Equally impressive, Tucker has also excelled beyond the diamond. The Tampa, Fla., native has used his fame to help support hospice care in Tampa and his adopted hometown of Houston.

Because of his altruistic efforts, Tucker was named the Astros’ nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award, which is the most prestigious award given by Major League Baseball.

Kyle Tucker Foundation focuses on hospice care

“This award is something really special,” Kyle Tucker said of the nomination. “It just means that you’re doing something outside our jobs out here on the field. You’re just impacting the community whichever way anyone kind of feels like they need to.”

Tucker is one of 30 nominees. He joins superstars such as the Mets’ Francisco Lindor, the Padres’ Manny Machado and the Royals’ Salvador Perez. The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, Angels’ Mike Trout and the Rangers’ Marcus Semien have also been nominated by their respective clubs.

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Puerto Rican icon Roberto Clemente, the first native of Latin America elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, died on New Year’s Eve 1972 on a relief mission to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. 

Clemente died when the cargo plane he was on crashed into the ocean shortly after departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Through the Kyle Tucker Foundation, Tucker has devoted his charitable efforts to hospice facilities in Tampa and Houston.

Following Craig Biggio’s example

“What we do with the Kyle Tucker Foundation and stuff outside of that with the Astros Foundation, the Sunshine Kids and whatnot, it’s pretty special just to be honored for something bigger than baseball,” he said. “We work primarily with hospice care.

“Here in Houston we work with Houston Hospice and Texas Children’s Hospital. We do a few different things. We host some of the hospice workers (so they can) have a day at the ballpark. It’s where they can get away from the stuff they handle at work and they deal with at work. Kind of just enjoy their time at the field and relax and just enjoy the game.”

“This award is something that’s pretty special,” All-Star Kyle Tucker says of being the Astros’ nominee for the prestigious #RobertoClementeAward. “It means you’re doing something outside our jobs out here on the field. You’re impacting the community. …”#Relentless pic.twitter.com/MhOe3fu7h2

— Our Esquina (@OurEsquina) September 10, 2024

Hall of Famer Craig Biggio became the first and only Astros player to win the Roberto Clemente Award in 2007. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge won the award last year.

“We do other stuff in terms of donations and fundraisers and everything because most hospice care isn’t really covered by insurance,” Tucker said. “Most of it is covered by donations. We just try to help out with stuff like that. Whether it’s donating our time or money we just try to help out as much as possible.”