Perez wins Clemente Award for philanthropy

NEW YORK>> Honored with Major League Baseball’s highest honor for character, community involvement and philanthropy, Salvador Perez wanted fellow major leaguers to know contributing even a little time to charitable work can go a long way.

“I know sometimes we’re tired and we like to enjoy the off day at home,” the Kansas City catcher said after receiving the Roberto Clemente Award. “I get it. But just for two or three hours one day every month, just one day out of 30 days, 31 days, just one day go have fun, go make some kid happy. They’re never, never going to forget that.”

A nine-time All-Star and the 2015 World Series MVP, the 34-year-old received the award before World Series Game 3 on Monday at Yankee Stadium.

Perez and his family distribute bags of food and kitchen supplies to 2,000 homes each offseason in the neediest parts of his hometown of Valencia, Venezuela, over the past decade. He has a youth baseball league there, providing equipment for kids and financial support for their families.

He has also paid for dozens of surgeries for kids with cleft lips, he’s given more than 1,000 toys to children’s hospitals and has supported police officers.

In the U.S., Perez has partnered with organizations fighting Lou Gehrig’s disease and works with Kansas-based Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer. Perez made a $1 million donation to the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy, matching the largest ever for the academy.

Spaniards Rodri, Bonmatí win Ballon d’Or award

PARIS>> Spanish midfielders Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí won the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or award as the world’s best soccer players, while Real Madrid snubbed the ceremony in Paris in apparent protest.

The 28-year-old Rodri won the award for the first time after helping Manchester City win the Premier League and being a key player in Spain’s European Championship triumph. The 26-year-old Bonmatí retained her award after helping Barcelona win the Spanish league, Spanish cup and Champions League.

Man United fires Ten Hag

Manchester United fired manager Erik ten Hag after a troubled start to the season which has left the 20-time English champions languishing in the Premier League amid a period of major upheaval at the club.

Ruben Amorim, the coach of Portuguese team Sporting, was in talks about replacing Ten Hag, British media reported.

Curry out at least 2 games

SAN FRANCISCO>> Stephen Curry will miss at least two games for the Golden State Warriors nursing an injured ankle that he hurt in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Curry had an MRI exam after the game and it showed no structural damage and revealed a left peroneal strain.

White out as Sun’s coach

UNCASVILLE, Conn.>> The Connecticut Sun parted ways with Stephanie White, who led the Sun to the WNBA semifinals her two seasons as coach. The Sun went 28-12 in the regular season, swept Indiana in the first round of the playoffs and lost a five-game semifinal to Minnesota.

Malzahn makes changes

ORLANDO, Fla.>> In the middle of a five-game losing streak, UCF coach Gus Malzahn made major changes to the coaching staff, firing defensive coordinator Ted Roof and ceding play-calling responsibility to offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr.