Andrew McCutchen named Roberto Clemente Award winner

Arthur Weinstein

Andrew McCutchen named Roberto Clemente Award winner image

Andrew McCutchen is already being compared to Pirates legend Roberto Clemente for his on-field exploits. Now, like Clemente before him, McCutchen is being honored for his off-field work as well.

McCutchen received the 2015 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet before Friday night's World Series game at Citi Field.

2015 SN Awards: NL All-Star team | AL All-Star Team | Player of the Year

The annual award recognizes a major leaguer for sportsmanship, character and contributions to the community.

McCutchen beat out 29 other nominees, one from each MLB team.

"It means a lot. I feel like it means a bit more to me, just because of it being Roberto Clemente and him playing for the Pirates, wearing the same uniform," McCutchen said, via MLB.com. "It just shows that I'm moving in the right direction as far as being able to do the things that I want to do off the baseball field. Just getting a prestigious award like this is very humbling."

Among McCutchen's charitable efforts this year, he's invited several Make-A Wish Foundation to spend the day with him. And for Halloween, he provided costumes for patients at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

McCutchen is only the second Pirates player to take home the Roberto Clemente Award, following Willie Stargell in 1974.

Arthur Weinstein