According to Tom Gatto of The Sporting News, representatives from Major League Baseball won two significant awards at the 2020 ESPY Awards on Sunday. Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz of Las Matas de Santa Cruz, Dominican Republic won the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, and the Los Angeles Dodgers won the Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year Award. The 2020 ESPY Awards were virtual this year because of coronavirus.
Cruz was being recognized for his charitable work in his birthplace of Las Matas de Santa Cruz, which has a population of 18,756. According to Bill Baer of NBC Sports, Cruz has donated funds to the city to build a new police station, and has helped Las Matas de Santa Cruz get a fire engine and ambulance. He has also ensured those in need have access to wheelchairs and crutches, and ensuring its citizens have proper eye exams and dentistry, as he helps bring dentists and optometrists to the community.
In 2019, Cruz was in his first season with the Twins, after 14 years with the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, and Baltimore Orioles. In 120 games with the Twins, Cruz batted .311 with 41 home runs and 108 runs batted in. During 454 at bats, Cruz scored 81 runs, and had 141 hits, 26 doubles, 56 walks, 290 total bases, three sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .392, and a slugging percentage of .639.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers were recognized for the strong charitable work in their foundation. The Dodgers Foundation has donated 279, 280 meals and $659,227 to help people face homelessness, food insecurity, and anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic. With the award, comes $100,000 from ESPN to the foundation. There are currently 186, 794 cases of coronavirus in the state of California, and 5593 deaths.
