DETROIT — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is the frontrunner to win his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award, but he is also once again being recognized for his work off the field..
Skubal has been named the Tigers’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseball’s highest honor for character, community involvement and philanthropy, for the second straight year.
“It’s really special,” Skubal said. “I’m in a very privileged and fortunate spot because of a lot of people in my life who’ve made sacrifices for me. And for me to turn around and give back in any capacity is kind of what it’s all about. It’s something I don’t take lightly. It’s something I have a ton of pride in, giving back not only to this community but to my hometown and doing what I can do to help make an impact on the next generation.”
Skubal and his wife, Jessica, support the Detroit Tigers Foundation and Detroit’s Alternatives for Girls, which helps homeless and at-risk young women. In 2024, they donated “Welcome Home Baskets” for families moving into the Dr. Maya Angelou Village, a new 45-unit affordable housing project with 23 units dedicated to Alternatives for Girls. This year, they are helping support an early childhood education center at the site.
Skubal has also contributed to the Tigers Foundation and, for five straight years, participated in the Autograph for a Cause program benefiting both the foundation and Little League in his hometown of Kingman, Ariz.
Fans can vote for the award at MLBTogether.com/clemente21 until Sept. 28. The winner, chosen through a combination of fan voting and a blue-ribbon panel, will be announced during the World Series.
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez won the award in 2024.