This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
BALTIMORE -- Many fans have noticed Jordan Westburg’s quiet, workmanlike demeanor on display throughout his first three MLB seasons, and the 26-year-old infielder knows it to be true.
“I’m not the most talkative guy,” Westburg recently said with a bit of a smile. “I’m certainly working on being a little more personable.”
Even if Westburg’s soft-spoken words may not be the loudest in any room, his actions often make plenty of noise -- and not only on the baseball field, but off of it through community work and time spent trying to make Baltimore and other places around the country better.
Even if Westburg’s soft-spoken words may not be the loudest in any room, his actions often make plenty of noise -- and not only on the baseball field, but off of it through community work and time spent trying to make Baltimore and other places around the country better.
That’s why Westburg was named the Orioles’ nominee for the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award, an annual honor given to the player who best represents the game of baseball through character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field.
Fans can vote for the overall Roberto Clemente Award winner through Sept. 28.
Westburg will be recognized by the O’s during an on-field ceremony prior to Saturday’s 7:05 p.m. ET contest vs. the Yankees at Camden Yards, while MLB will make a donation to a charity chosen by Westburg.
“This is an honor to be nominated, first and foremost,” Westburg said. “My No. 1 goal in playing this game is to use this platform for something greater than just the game of baseball. So knowing what [Clemente] did and his philanthropic actions, just to be mentioned in his name and his wake is extremely humbling. It’s an honor that I’m very grateful for. It pushes me to want to do even more.”
In April 2024, the Orioles launched their adopt-a-school campaign in support of Harlem Park Elementary Middle School in Baltimore. Westburg has been among the players at the forefront of that program.
This April, Westburg and his wife, Anna Claire, helped unveil a newly renovated outdoor classroom at Harlem Park, which was funded by a postseason share donated by the 2024 O’s. The Westburgs took the time to attend the dedication and read to students at the school.
“A lot of us in life have so much, and we take it for granted,” Westburg said. “To be able to volunteer at the school, to be able to go and read to the kids and introduce new playground games and activities to them, and see how much joy that brings them to their lives is special.”
Westburg has done other volunteer work throughout Baltimore, but he also completes service projects in other cities when the O’s are on the road.
“He's incredible. I mean, obviously, we see what he does on the field and how good of a player he is, but I don't think people realize how incredible this guy is behind the scenes in a lot of ways,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “He goes on the road and gets his butt out of bed early in the morning and in visiting cities, goes and finds service work through a program that he works with, which is really abnormal for a lot of guys. It's very selfless in a lot of ways. It's very mature. Couldn't have picked a better guy for that award right there.”
Amid a tough season for Baltimore (73-81), Westburg has emerged as a leader in the clubhouse as well. In Spring Training, he helped organize and lead Bible studies for his teammates. He also leads by example in his pregame baseball work, serving as a role model for young players who have joined the club.
For Westburg, though, being a professional baseball player is about more than solely the game.
“I just want to use this to maybe leave a mark outside of baseball, to maybe make an impact on people with the interactions I have, with the love that I can give,” Westburg said. “I do want to make an impact, I do want to use this for something greater than myself.”