The Atlanta Braves Spencer Strider has officially been named the Braves’ 2025 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for his efforts in his community. This award is one of the most meaningful honors in all of Major League Baseball. And if you think it’s just about baseball, think again.
Strider, along with his wife Maggie, has turned personal compassion into real, boots-on-the-ground action in Georgia, particularly with local foster care families, children’s hospitals, and even a high school still reeling from tragedy.
Last year, after a mass shooting rocked Apalachee High School — located just northeast of Atlanta — Strider didn’t just send a tweet or wear a ribbon. He and Maggie personally served lunch to the entire faculty and staff. Then he went a step further, bringing the school’s varsity and JV baseball teams out to Truist Park for on-field batting practice and giving them the chance to play on the big-league diamond.
Strider’s Impact on Atlanta’s Community Continues
The Striders launched “Foster Family Fridays,” a heartwarming initiative in partnership with the Braves Foundation and Georgia Kids Belong in 2024. Each week, a foster family is treated to an unforgettable day at the ballpark.
This day includes VIP experiences, batting practice, meet-and-greets, and plenty of Braves gear. It’s not just a photo op, either. Strider and his teammates — including fan favorites like Ozzie Albies — are deeply involved.
He and Maggie also volunteer during the offseason with Georgia Kids Belong and make weekly visits to children’s hospitals to spend time with young patients undergoing treatment. This is all while Strider himself has been recovering from a torn UCL, an injury that sidelined him for the 2024 season.
Despite that setback, Spencer Strider has shown what it truly means to be a leader off the field — something Apalachee head baseball coach Kyle Bailey recognized firsthand. “While most people might be content with providing a helping hand in the immediate aftermath of our tragedy,” Bailey told MLB.com, “Spencer has continued to advocate for the Apalachee community.”
The Roberto Clemente Award, named after the legendary Pirates outfielder who died delivering humanitarian aid in 1972, honors players who embody Clemente’s legacy of character, community service, and leadership.
Every MLB team gets one nominee each season, and now it’s up to the fans. You can vote and learn more about each nominee here.
Strider may have been sidelined part of this season, but his impact is louder than ever — and this nomination proves it.
