Craig Kimbrel named Atlanta Braves nominee for Roberto Clemente Award

Every year, each of the 30 clubs in Major League Baseball nominates a representative for the Roberto Clemente Award, and this season, the Atlanta Braves have chosen All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel.

Here is the definition of the criteria for the Clemente Award:

"The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to a player who demonstrates the values Clemente displayed in his commitment to community and understanding the value of helping others"

The 26-year-old Kimbrel has continued his dominance on the field this season, posting 43 saves to go along with a 1.74 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 88 strikeouts across just 57 innings, but more than that, he has been a large contributor to the Metro Atlanta community. Quite obviously, this space is largely dominated by the ins and outs of on-field play and the decision-making to put players in the best position to succeed, but in the midst of a week dominated by highly negative story lines throughout sports (and especially in the city of Atlanta), it is encouraging to see a positive spin on things.

Congratulations to Craig on this honor, and hopefully, he will inspire others to contribute in a positive way throughout the city.