Washington Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray will be the team’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. The accolade is given to the player who exemplifies exceptional character, community engagement, philanthropic efforts, and positive contributions on and off the field, making a lasting impact beyond the game of baseball. Aaron Judge of the New York Yankee was last year’s recipient of the award.
Josiah Gray is the Nationals’ nominee for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) September 9, 2024
Josiah Gray Named Nominee for Roberto Clemente Award
Over the past year, 26-year-old Gray and his family have actively participated in the team’s charitable initiatives, including the “Strike Out Breast Cancer” campaign. In early 2024, Gray was Washington’s representative for the MLB’s Lou Gehrig Day Auction. Additionally, in 2022, he was appointed the Player Ambassador to the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. During his time there, Gray has formed strong connections with school-aged children who take part in the Academy’s programs, following in the footsteps of former Player Ambassadors Josh Bell, Anthony Rendon, and Ian Desmond.
Over the past three years, Gray has spent his time off the field working with the Nationals Academy Scholar Athletes. He has connected with these Scholar Athletes at events such as high school games and the facility’s entry-level program. However, in 2023, Gray made history as the first Player Ambassador to organize a unique event at the Academy called “Glow and Throw with JoJo.” This event is a special evening of glow-in-the-dark baseball activities designed for Scholar Athletes in the Academy’s competitive baseball programs.
Gray serves as an inspiration to these Scholar Athletes, embodying the Academy’s core value of “Continue to Learn.” He delivers the keynote address at the Academy’s eighth-grade graduation each spring. This year’s graduation took place during the same month that Gray himself graduated summa cum laude from Le Moyne College.
Main Photo: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
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