Yinzers Bednar, Mason Miller nominated for Clemente Award

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There have been struggles on the field, but David Bednar has stayed consistent with his work off the field and for the third consecutive year is the Pirates nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.

“It’s a huge honor,” Bednar said Monday. “Obviously, what Roberto meant to this city and baseball as a whole and all of his efforts on and off the field is truly incredible and something I want to try and carry his legacy on.”

He said it is equally special to be nominated for a third straight season.

“It’s huge,” Bednar said. “I grew up here. I was one of those kids in the stands, one of those kids who always came to games. To be able to give back and put a smile on someone’s face is huge for me.

“There’s so many people doing great things and everybody moving the needle forward and carry on his legacy as best we can.”

"You just talk about the person in general, how much he loves Pittsburgh, being here, how much he gives,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “I think we say this every year, but he doesn't say no to anything. He continues to just exemplify what it means to be a Clemente nominee."

Bednar said off the field is just as important, that it’s about the bigger picture and making everybody’s day a little bit better. As Shelton said, there is hardly an event in Pittsburgh that Bednar doesn’t attend.

The Roberto Clemente Award is bestowed annually to the player who best represents the game of Baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

Bednar isn’t the only Pittsburgher nominated, so is Bethel Park HS graduate and former Waynesburg University pitcher Mason Miller with the A’s. Miller made a commitment to make direct outreach to children living with Type 1 diabetes. He’s allowed families to reach out to him with advice and encouragement.

Among the others who were selected to represent their teams
·     Atlanta’s Chris Sale
·     Mets Francisco Lindor
·     San Diego’s Manny Machado
·     Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt
·     Royals Salvador Perez
·     Angels Mike Trout