Pirates' Paul Skenes Nominated for Roberto Clemente Award

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes has dominated on the field in 2025, but his work to help others off the field has garnered recognition.

The Pirates announced Skenes as their nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award on Sept. 15, during their Roberto Clemente Day of Service, where players and members of the organization did service activities throughout the Pittsburgh area.

The Roberto Clemente Award honors the MLB player, "who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field."

The award is named after Pirates Hall of Fame right fielder Roberto Clemente, who committed himself to huminatarian work across the Caribbean and Latin American. It ulitmately cost him his life, as he died in a plane crash on Dec. 31, 1972. He had chartered the plane to bring emergency goods for the people of Nicaragua, who just endured a massive earthquake.

The Pirates have had two Roberto Clemente Award Winners in Hall of Fame outfielder/first baseman Willie Stargell in 1974 and outfielder Andrew McCutchen in 2015

Former right-handed relief pitcher David Bednar was a three-time Pirates honoree for the Roberto Clement

The Pirates honored Skenes before first pitch of the series opener vs. the Chicago Cubs that same day at PNC Park and he spoke prior about how honored he was to receive the nomination.

"It's incredible," Skenes said on the nomination. "Obviously, the Pirates is a pretty direct thing for the Roberto Clemente Award. So being able to represent our club, our organization, is an unbelievable honor.

"This is cool. I think he Clemente Award reminds baseball players, it reminds fans and everybody what really matters in this game. We have a huge platform to be able to help people out and its our responsibility to use that platform. It's an honor.