Holt nominated for Roberto Clemente Award

TORONTO -- As a player who came up through the Pirates farm system, being named in the same sentence as Roberto Clemente will never get even a little bit old for Red Sox veteran Brock Holt.

And on Thursday, Holt was nominated for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award for the fourth time in the last five years.

The award recognizes a player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement and positive contributions both on and off the field.

It’s hard to imagine any Major League player combining all of those traits better than Holt, who is a frequent and inspirational presence at the cancer-fighting Jimmy Fund.

“He’s been great. He’s a guy, he has a great heart,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He really cares. Even the other day, I was doing something and I went back to the ballpark and he comes in and I was like, ‘Where were you?’ He was like, ‘I was just at the hospital.’ I was like, ‘Scheduled?’ He was like, ‘No, just stopped by and said hi.’ That tells you a lot about who he is.”

Anyone who has ever seen Holt interact with kids around the ballpark or at local charity events can tell he isn’t in it for the publicity.

“It’s always cool to kind of be associated with that award,” Holt said. “I’ve been nominated a few times now, and obviously I don’t think anyone that gets nominated does this stuff for the recognition. But it’s nice to see that some of the things that you’re doing are noticed, and any time you’re involved with something with Roberto Clemente’s name on it is pretty special.”

It didn’t take Holt very long as a Pirates prospect to realize Clemente’s impact on baseball and people.

“Coming up through the Pirates organization, obviously he was the guy that everyone talked about, and everyone in the organization wanted to kind of [emulate],” Holt said. “He was kind of a role model type of guy. There were quotes from him all over the place, and we learned a lot about the kind of person he was. Obviously, everyone knows how good of a baseball player he was. Off the field, though, one of the best people ever in this game. It’s a very prestigious award that’s such an honor to be nominated for.”

Holt and his wife Lakyn cherish the many relationships they’ve formed with Jimmy Fund patients, looking at them like extended family members.

“The kids I’ve been able to form a relationship with, the families I’ve been able to form relationships with, they’re a huge part of my life, and Lakyn’s also,” said Holt. “We keep in contact with a lot of kids that we’ve met over the years, and just seeing them and having them out to games and FaceTiming and all that other stuff, they’ve become like family to us. It’s a special place that we’re very, very fortunate to be a small part of it.”

Plans in motion for Price, Hembree

Lefty David Price felt no ill effects a day after throwing a bullpen session. Signs continue to be encouraging that Price can at least make an abbreviated start next week. Price has pitched just two innings since Aug. 4 due to a left wrist injury.

Righty reliever Heath Hembree, who has been out for more than a month with elbow woes, also hopes to pitch again this season. Hembree hopes to throw a simulated game in Philadelphia on Saturday. There’s a chance that Price will join him.

This day in Red Sox history

Thursday marked the 40th anniversary of one of the most special days in the history of Fenway Park. It was Sept. 12, 1979 when the legendary Carl Yastrzemski belted hit No. 3,000 in his career.

It was a dramatic moment, as it was Yaz’s final at-bat before the Red Sox would go on a six-game road trip. Yastrzemski had gone hitless in 10 straight at-bats before finding a hole through the infield and just out of the reach of Yankees second baseman Willie Randolph.

On Tuesday, another special thing will happen for Yastrzemski, as his grandson Mike will play at Fenway for the first time when the Giants come to town.

Yaz plans to attend the series, marking the first time he will see his grandson play in a Major League game.