Prior to the start of Game 2 of the World Series, Nelson Cruz was named the 2021 Roberto Clemente Award winner. The award can be defined by MLB as "The award is given annually to a player who demonstrates the values Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente displayed in his commitment to community and understanding the value of helping others." Cruz's charitable work was truly remarkable, as he provided his hometown, Las Matas de Santa Cruz, in the Dominican Republic, with dental care, optometric services, a police station, ambulance assistance and much more. His compassion served over 1,000 families over the COVID-19 pandemic.