An impressive 2020 Minnesota Twins season ended with another quick playoff exit, but one positive was fan and clubhouse favorite Nelson Cruz who had a great year on and off the field.

The Minnesota Twins have announced that Nelson Cruz, in voting from his peers, was selected as the Marvin Miller Marvin Man Of The Year. This is part of the 2020 Players Choice Awards.

In balloting for the Marvin Miller Award, players are asked to vote for the player they “most respect based on his leadership on the field and in the community.” Cruz joins Paul Molitor (1998) and Torii Hunter (2007) as the only three Twins to win the honor, which was established in 1997.

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Not only is it a terrific honor, but as the 2020 Marvin Miller Award winner, Cruz will receive a $10,000 grant from the Major League Baseball Players Trust to support his numerous charitable efforts.

This is yet another off-field accolade for Cruz, who was already named the winner of the 2020 Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at the ESPYS in June and was the Twins’ nominee for this year’s Roberto Clemente Award.

According to Twinsball.com, he has long worked to better lives in his native Dominican Republic, elsewhere in Latin America and in the communities in which he has played during his 16-year major league career.   Earlier this year, he led the delivery of a $400,000 donation from Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and the MLBPA Players Trust Returning Home program to the Dominican Republic, providing medical equipment and helping to battle food insecurity in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Nelson Cruz is also very active with his Boomstick23 Foundation, which focuses on "making a difference in children’s lives through sport and education."

On the field Cruz had a terrific second season in a Twins uniform. The 40-year old played in 53 games and hit .303 with 16 home runs and 33 RBI.  He ultimately finished in the American League's top-10 in several offensive categories.

 

2021 Minnesota Twins Schedule Highlights

 

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