Twins slugger Nelson Cruz, Dodgers win 2020 ESPY humanitarian awards

Nelson Cruz, designated hitter of the Minnesota Twins, greets fans in the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 7, 2020. /VCG

Nelson Cruz, designated hitter of the Minnesota Twins, was honored with the 2020 Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award on Sunday night. The Los Angeles Dodgers received the 2020 Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year.

"Over our 60 years in Minnesota, the Twins have been incredibly blessed to have had so many great players who happen to be even better people – Nelson Cruz is a shining example. Through his work in the Dominican Republic, Twins Territory and beyond, Nellie continues to touch countless lives. He lives our organizational pillars of passion, hustle, heart and fun each and every day, and we are incredibly proud to have Nelson Cruz as part of our Minnesota Twins family," said Twins president and CEO Dave St. Peter.

Cruz received the award for his continuous charity efforts in his hometown of Las Matas De Santa Cruz in the Dominican Republic and the Minneapolis-St. Paul community. According to ESPN, he helped build a new police station at home and purchased a fire engine, an ambulance plus lost of wheelchairs and stretchers. Cruz also took dentists and optometrist to his hometown to offer locals free checks and treatment.

Cruz will also be given 100,000 U.S. dollars from ESPN to his Boomstick23 Foundation to fund his work.

From L to R: Aja Brown, City of Compton Mayor, Michelle Chambers, City Of Compton Councilwoman,Clayton Kershaw, Nichol Whiteman, Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Anthony Anderson and Ayo Robinson attend The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Kershaw's Challenge And The City Of Compton Host Dodgers Dreamfields Groundbreaking at Gonzales Park in Compton, California, February 12, 2020. /VCG

The Dodgers won the award thanks to the incredible work by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation which has donated 279,280 meals and 659,227 U.S. dollars to those dealing with homelessness, food insecurity, lack of basic needs and significant anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the foundation also did a lot in improving education, health care, homelessness and social justice of the community.

"LADF was built for this moment in time. The trauma of a pandemic and social justice events has exacerbated the significant disparities in our communities. We know that inequality can only be dismantled through proactive and strategic interventions, and we are starting with the root causes. This award is a celebration of our organization's accomplishments, but we are far from done. LADF will not waver. We will be part of the solution," said foundation CEO Nichol Whiteman.

LADF will also receive 100,000 U.S. dollars from ESPN to continue their charity work.