Hosmer, Butler, Holland receive recognition

Aug 16, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) receives congratulations from designated hitter Billy Butler (16) after hitting a home run fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Royals’ regular season might be over, but their time to shine is not. Several Royals’ players have recently been nominated for well-respected awards within the MLB.

Fans can help Royals’ nominee, Eric Hosmer, bring home the 2013 Hank Aaron Award by going on-line at MLB.com and the 30 Club sites to vote until Oct. 10. Created to honor the 25th Anniversary of Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record, the Hank Aaron award credits the most outstanding offensive player in each league at the end of each season. Miguel Cabrera and Buster Posey received the award in 2012.

Hosmer had a bounceback year batting .302 and leading the American League with 60 multi-hit games. Hosmer began the season batting only .244, but since May has sustained a .317 average. Along with fans, a Hall of Fame panel featuring Hank Aaron will preside over the choosing of the 2013 awardee.

The Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Chevrolet, pays tribute to Clemente by honoring players who demonstrate notable character along with their baseball achievements. Clemente died in a plane crash while delivering supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua in 1972. Royals’ fans can look for their own Billy Butler among the nominees this year. Butler is being recognized as a nominee because of his support of the Bishop Sullivan Center in Kansas City, and also the creation of the Hit-It-A-Ton program that, so far, has raised 1,441 tons of food to support feeding the hungry in Kansas City.

Last but not least, Greg Holland is September’s MLB Delivery Man of the Month. Bringing home the Delivery Man Award in July as well, Holland is one of only 2 Royals’ pitchers to receive the award, and 1 of only 5 pitchers in the league to receive the award multiple times. Others that have received the award multiple times are Rafael Soriano, J.J. Putz, Aroldis Chapman and Jason Grilli. Kansas City’s closer led the MLB with 11 saves during the final month of the regular season, making him a shoe-in for the award that recognizes the most outstanding relief pitcher of each month of the regular season.

Fans can look for the Roberto Clemente Award to be named during the World Series at the end of October and continue to vote for Hosmer to win the 2013 Hank Aaron award at MLB.com or any of the 30 Club sites.