Since signing with the Rays in 2018, Charlie Morton has become an integral part of the Tampa Bay rotation. Morton was an All-Star last season, a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award and he was the Rays’ Opening Day starter this season.

But when the rest of the clubhouse talks about Morton, his accomplishments on the field usually take a back seat to the type of person and teammate he is. Morton was named the Rays’ nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, making it his third nomination with three organizations (Pirates, Astros).

“It’s an honor,” Morton said about the nomination. “I played with the Pirates for a long time and Roberto Clemente and his family were kind of a staple in the community. Obviously Roberto was very much so. Beyond what he did on the field, but what he did off the field, even until his last day, it’s an honor to be associated with his name.”

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Morton felt the need to assist the community. He reached out to the Rays’ front office, looking for a way to donate money or food to those in need. Along with his wife, Cindy, Morton made a $50,000 donation to Feeding Tampa Bay, which was matched by the club, resulting in 1 million meals. Following that donation, the rest of the team decided to get involved, and the organization provided more than 4.1 million meals to those in need in the Tampa Bay area.

“We knew that people were going to need help and that’s all we were trying to do,” Morton said. “We really just tried to do the right thing. It’s not anything other than that. It’s just trying to help people. We’ll continue to try and do that.”

Aside from his charitable donations, Morton has also donated his time. He has been involved with Reading with the Rays, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and has often surprised kids with a visit or tickets to a game.

Morton has worked to support military personnel throughout his career. Both of his grandfathers fought in World War II, which is why he feels a connection to the cause. Over the course of his career, he has hosted military veterans from the Wounded Warrior Project at home games.

“He’s awesome. I love Charlie to death,” said Rays outfielder Austin Meadows. “He’s a really good player, but he’s a really good person. And that’s what goes a lot further in this game. He’s definitely a great presence for us.”

Arozarena’s weight gain plan

Randy Arozarena, who has four home runs in his first seven games this season, came in looking stronger than he did during Spring Training. On Tuesday, Arozarena said he put on about 15 pounds during the shutdown. His secret? Eating rice and chicken … and doing 300 pushups “almost every day.”

“I couldn’t leave the apartment, so I didn’t have anything else,” Arozarena laughed. “I was also able to cook for myself for the first time in my life.”

Other notes

• Oliver Drake (right biceps) has been sidelined since Aug. 9, but the right-hander is nearing his return to the bullpen. Rays manager Kevin Cash said the club expects Drake back from injury over the weekend, assuming there are no setbacks.

• To make room for Ryan Yarbrough on the active roster, the Rays optioned right-hander Trevor Richards to the alternate training site. Richards allowed three runs on six hits over three innings in Monday’s 6-1 loss to the Nationals.