‘It’s Incredible,’ Lowe Honored to Be Clemente Award Nominee in 1st Year With Pirates

September 16, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

PITTSBURGH – Anyone who knows the Pirates knows the significance of Robert Clemente to the organization and the city of Pittsburgh.

Clemente, one of the best players in franchise history, is remembered just as much for his humanitarian efforts as he is for his tremendous play on the field.

Visit goldparty.lat for more information.

Every year, Major League Baseball chooses a Roberto Clemente Award winner from 30 nominees – one from each team in the league. The award is “bestowed annually to the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”

This year, second baseman Brandon Lowe is the Pirates nominee.

“It’s incredible,” Lowe said on Tuesday. “The background of the award and everything the award stands for, obviously it’s incredible. There’s a lot of people in this clubhouse that are doing a lot of things in this community, as well. To be able to be the nominee, especially in Pittsburgh, it does make it a little more special.”

In his first season with the Pirates, Lowe has been a key component in a turnaround that has taken the team’s offense from the worst in baseball a year ago to one of the best in baseball this season.

He hit his 30th home run of the season on Tuesday night — Roberto Clemente Day — against the Brewers, the first Pirate to hit the mark since Josh Bell in 2019. Lowe leads all MLB second baseman in home runs and leads the Pirates in homers, RBI (86), slugging percentage (.477) and OPS (.803).

In addition to what he’s done on the field, Lowe has become a pillar in the community through his charitable efforts.

“Brandon’s met so much to the team on the field as we all see,” explained manager Don Kelly. “Honestly, I don’t think he’s missed anything this year as far as the community stuff goes. It’s been really impressive how he’s dove in head first and really showing up at everything to get back to the community. Especially in the first year.”

Lowe credits his wife, Madison, as the driving force behind his sense of charity.

“Madison is probably one of the most genuine people anyone will ever meet,” said Lowe. “I talk about this all the time: Back in college, she was doing charity work. I don’t know what kind of college student wants to go do charity work instead of hanging out with their friends. She was always first in line to be doing any of that.”

Soon after signing with the Rays, the team Lowe played for from 2018-25 before joining the Pirates via trade this past offseason, the Lowe’s immediately looked for ways to impact the community. They’ve continued their charitable ways in their first year in Pittsburgh.

Lowe’s involvement in Pittsburgh includes the continuation Lowe’s Legends, a program designed to create opportunities for youth baseball and softball players who may not otherwise have access to them, and much more.

“Just little things we can do that try to help a day-to-day life for everybody else,” he said.

On Tuesday morning, the Pirates held their annual Clemente Day of Service before ‘The Great One’ was celebrated league-wide. Unsurprisingly, Lowe participated.

The Pirates second baseman attended Avalon Elementary school, roughly 15 minutes from PNC Park. The festivities included a game of wiffle ball, where Lowe pitched to students during the second game that was played.

“t’s a good thing I don’t pitch,” he joked. “I was very much trying to get hit around and they sure did not take it easy on me.”

Following the Day of Service, Lowe took the field with his teammates with No. 21 on the back of his jersey for Tuesday’s game. All uniformed personnel for the Pirates wear the iconic jersey number of Clemente on the day that’s dedicated to him, a tradition that was spearheaded by former manager Derek Shelton during his tenure with the team.

It’s a gesture that carries significant weight for those who participate. For Lowe, that feeling is even more special as the team’s Roberto Clemente Award nominee.

“I think there’s a little more to it, being in Pittsburgh and seeing 21 on your jersey and everything that comes with that.”

Related Headlines