This story was excerpted from Adam Berry’s Rays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ST. PETERSBURG -- It didn’t take Shane McClanahan long to find a cause close to his heart in the Tampa Bay community.

McClanahan’s first experience with Buddy Baseball came in college, during a volunteer visit with the University of South Florida baseball team. That led him to meet Dennis Mueller and his son, Zach, better known to McClanahan as “Big Dog.” They became fans of McClanahan, and he shared the same sentiment for them.

“I just fell in love with it,” McClanahan said. “My mom, when I was growing up, was a special needs teacher, so I always had the opportunity to be around and help and volunteer and kind of watch just how amazing all those kids are. It was always one of those things where I was always just wanting to be around it. I always wanted to help. Because it's infectious, the happiness and the love that they all have.

“It's like, 'Man, if I could just have a tenth of the happiness this kid has, I'd be in such a great spot.' Being around them, it's great for them, but it's great for me, too.”

McClanahan has been volunteering his time and money for years with Buddy Baseball, the non-competitive recreational baseball league serving the Tampa Bay community for boys and girls ages 8 to 22 with special needs. The 26-year-old’s efforts there led to him being named the Rays’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes the Major League player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field.

• VOTE NOW: 2023 Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One

“It's an honor. I love this community. Any chance I have of showing that love and giving back is something I want to take full advantage of,” McClanahan said last week. “To be nominated for this, it's humbling. It really is.”

McClanahan, who is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, was most excited about the idea that his nomination would shine a light on an organization that’s so important to him. Since his initial volunteer visit, the left-hander has continued to visit Buddy Baseball’s fields and pitch to kids during games in the offseason.

The Rays have hosted Rays Baseball Magic Clinics at Tropicana Field, with players and coaches leading youth players in drills and games. Every Monday home game has also been deemed “Magic Monday,” when athletes from Buddy Baseball take the field with big leaguers for the national anthem.

Last year, McClanahan donated $2,500 -- which was matched by the MLBPA -- toward Buddy Baseball’s fundraising for an accessible picnic shelter between fields. He also quietly collaborated with Kahwa Coffee to create a snickerdoodle-flavored iced latte, the No. 18 Latte, with $2 from each sale donated to Buddy Baseball. The partnership raised more than $3,600.

“This is probably the first time that has kind of been thrust a little bit into the public eye, I guess. For me, it's like, I want to do the right thing to do the right thing, not because I want the attention or the media or the notoriety,” McClanahan said. “Just be a good person to be a good person. At first, I was a little uncomfortable with it, because I had to do a photoshoot or whatever, but I got over it because I knew it was going to be for an amazing cause.

“I'm so thankful that they allowed us to do this with them and raise awareness and raise money for such a great cause. I feel really lucky that they included me in that. … It's not about me. It's about doing the right thing and helping these kids just be happy. That's what the goal is.”