The Mariners superstar outfielder recently received the team's nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Several of the season's most prestigious awards, such as the Cy Young and MVP awards, won't be announced until after the season ends.
On Monday, the Seattle Mariners, in addition to all 29 other major league clubs, announced their candidates for one of the most important awards that there is for a player to receive.
The Mariners announced Julio Rodriguez as their candidate for the Roberto Clemente Award, which is annually awarded to the player who "best (represents) baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, on and off the field."
Rodriguez received the nomination due to the work with his 'No Limit Foundation,' which, in its first full year of operations in 2025, donated meals and toys to over 5,000 children in the three-time All-Star's hometown of Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic.
The foundation also rebuilt the 20,000-resident town's city center and partnered with the Green Hope Foundation to provide "state-of-the-art" renovations to the softball, baseball and soccer complex in his hometown. Rodriguez pledged $600,000 to the project, which was unveiled in front of several teammates and other Dominican-born major league players.
"It means a lot to me to be nominated," Rodriguez said before Seattle's game against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. " ... I take a lot of pride and joy in doing things for other people, just helping underprivileged youth. Giving them opportunities. ... To me, (being in the conversation) with that award really means a lot."
In addition to his work with the No Limit Foundation, Rodriguez has also helped donate buses to be used in his hometown which have been used to transport people to hospitals, among several other uses.
Rodriguez credited his philanthropic mindset to his parents. His mother helped oversee medical missions to bring healthcare to his hometown and helped distribute resources, and his father was an agricultural engineer.
The center fielder's next project could end up bigger than his other work.
Per Rodriguez, there's a river in Loma de Cabrera, and Rodriguez has spoken with Dominican Republic president Luis Abinader to see if there's a way some residents could be relocated to better homes while cleaning the river and making it a gathering spot. Rodriguez's desire to do so relates to childhood memories at the river as a kid, where he learned how to swim.
"We created a lot of memories in that river," Rodriguez said. " ... I just want to be able to leave my hometown in a better spot."
Rodriguez isn't the only player to be nominated for the award in the clubhouse. Shortstop J.P. Crawford has been nominated the last two seasons and was a league-wide finalist for the award in '24.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson has preached the importance of community outreach and philanthropy at several events, and it seems like that mindset is carried across the board in the Seattle clubhouse.
"This is a great organization, man," Rodriguez said. "At the end of the day, we care about the people, we care about the community. And I feel like ever since I got here, that part has stayed the same. I'm very happy that I'm a part of the Seattle Mariners."
Fans can vote for Rodriguez to receive the award here. Fan voting ends Sept. 27.
