Heart & Hustle Award

2018 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

A first-time winner of the Boston Red Sox team Heart and Hustle Award, Betts' four seasons in the majors have been nothing short of stellar, winning two American League Gold Glove Awards, one American League Silver Slugger Award and earning three All-Star appearances. This season, Betts led the American League in batting average (.346), slugging percentage (.640) and runs scored (129), and was the first player to hit for the cycle, concluding his season with a World Series championship. Beyond the diamond, Betts has contributed to various charities in both Boston and his hometown of Nashville. While Betts has participated in events hosted by the Red Sox Foundation and Jimmy Fund, he has also assisted with youth baseball clinics in the Boston area and competed in charity golf and bowling tournaments, displaying his bowling prowess at an All-Star celebrity event hosted by NBA star Chris Paul. In 2017, Betts partnered with New Era to create a special line of baseball caps honoring the Red Sox and the state of Tennessee with a portion of sales going to two charities that Betts works with: Pitching In For Kids and One Mission. In 2018, Betts gained recognition for distributing hot meals to the homeless outside of the Boston Public Library after winning game two of the World Series.

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2017 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Brett Gardner, New York Yankees

In 2017, New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner had a solid campaign, posting career-highs in hits (157), home runs (21) and slugging percentage (.428). A Gold Glove Award winner in 2016 and an All-Star in 2015, Gardner is a five-time winner of the Yankees team Heart and Hustle Award. A tenacious player who always plays hard, Gardner's impact spans beyond the baseball field. Throughout his career, Gardner has spent countless hours at the New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, and visits patients at the Medical University of South Carolina every year as well. Twice a Roberto Clemente Award nominee, Gardner works with the Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army and serves as a charter member of the Taylor Hooton Advisory Board, which educates young people on the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs. A fixture in the Yankees annual "Hope Week" activities, Gardner also hosted a luncheon for 80 active duty members of the U.S. military and their families for Thanksgiving in 2016, and in September of 2017 wore two special pairs of cleats that he auctioned off to benefit the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Pediatric Cancer Research Center. Brett Gardner is a true gamer who embodies all of the qualities of a Heart & Hustle Award winner, and we are honored to present him the 2017 Heart & Hustle Award.

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2016 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Todd Frazier, Chicago White Sox

In 2016 Chicago White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier clubbed 40 homers, drove in 98 runs and swiped 15 bases en route to one of the best seasons of his career. A two-time All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the White Sox after the 2015 season, Frazier won the 2015 Home Run Derby in Cincinnati. A champion at heart, Frazier was a part of the Toms River, New Jersey, team that won the 1998 Little League World Series. Since his MLB debut in 2011, Frazier has become one of the best power-hitting third basemen in the game. A tenacious athlete and a great teammate, Frazier also stays active in his community, helping with relief efforts in his home state of New Jersey when Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012. We are proud to honor Todd Frazier with the 2016 Heart & Hustle Award.

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2015 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

2015 Heart & Hustle Award winner Anthony Rizzo put together quite a season, collecting 163 hits, slugging 31 homers and driving in 101 runs to accompany 17 stolen bases. A rising star in the league, the Chicago Cubs first baseman played in 160 games in 2015, a year in which the Cubs finished with a record of 97-65 and advanced all the way to the National League Championship Series. In 2015, Rizzo made his second of three career All-Star appearance, finishing fourth in National League MVP voting as well. Rizzo spends much of his free time giving back to his community and represents the game of baseball with pride and honor. Through the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, Rizzo helps to provide support for cancer research and for children and their families who are battling the disease. A phenomenal teammate as well, Anthony Rizzo is a deserving recipient of the 2015 Heart & Hustle Award.

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2014 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates

A National League All-Star selection in 2014, Josh Harrison didn't stop there as he secured the 2014 overall Heart & Hustle Award. Harrison was consistently good for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, posting a batting average of .315 while crossing home plate 77 times, stealing 18 bases and compiling 52 RBI. A versatile utilityman, Harrison plays the game with passion and energy, helping the 2014 Pirates to reach the postseason. In addition to what he's done on the diamond, Harrison is extremely active in his community, both through the Josh Harrison for Hope Foundation, which helps provide clothing for low-income children, and through his involvement with Dreambuilders and Blessings in a Backpack, who have partnered to help provide food for elementary school students in the Pittsburgh area. A great player and an even better teammate and person, Harrison's 2014 Heart & Hustle Award is much deserved.

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2013 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

In 2013 Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia put together another solid season, posting an average of .301 with 193 hits and 84 RBI. A 2013 American League All-Star, Pedroia also won a Gold Glove Award. Since his MLB debut in 2006, Pedroia has been selected to four AL All-Star teams, won the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year Award and received 2008 AL MVP honors. A World Series champion with the Red Sox in 2007 and 2013, Pedroia is known around the league for his relentless effort on the field both offensively and defensively, making him exactly the kind of player that embodies the values of the Heart & Hustle Award.

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2012 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

During his breakout season for the Los Angeles Angels in 2012, Mike Trout led the league in runs scored (129) and stolen bases (49) and was unanimously voted the American League's Rookie of the Year. With a .326 batting average, 30 home runs and 83 RBI, Trout finished second in American League MVP voting and was selected to his first All-Star team in 2012. Trout plays baseball at full speed every day and exudes a passion for the game that is undeniable, making him a more-than-worthy winner of the 2012 Heart & Hustle Award.

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2011 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

One of the best defensive center fielders of the 21st century, Torii Hunter was a five-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glove Award winner and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner during his career. In 2011, Hunter finished with a .262 average, 23 home runs and 82 RBI. On defense, Hunter was stellar once again, finishing with a .989 fielding percentage and committing only three errors the entire season. Hunter's charity, the Torii Hunter Project Education Initiative, provides college scholarships for students in California, Nevada, Minnesota and Hunter's home state of Arkansas. He is also active in the Big Brothers Organization and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. His work earned him the 2009 Branch Rickey Award, which is given based on excellence in charity work. A fantastic player and a great ambassador for the game, we are proud to honor Torii Hunter with the 2011 Heart & Hustle Award.

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2010 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies

After spending his first 12 MLB seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Roy Halladay was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in December of 2009. Chosen in the first round of the 1995 MLB Draft, Halladay went on to put together a phenomenal career in Major League Baseball. In 2003, Halladay won the American League Cy Young Award, establishing himself as one of the top starting pitchers in the game. In 2010, Halladay went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA and 219 strikeouts in 250.2 innings of work, earning him the National League Cy Young Award. In addition to his two Cy Young Awards, Halladay also made eight All-Star teams. Apart from his on-field accomplishments, the ace was actively involved in the community. While in Toronto, he started the "Doc's Box" program in which he and his wife, Brandy, brought kids from the local children's hospital and their families to a Blue Jays game. They were treated to a day of baseball along with a hat, T-shirt, program and other Blue Jays gear. Due to his consistent, dominant career on the mound and his commitment to his community, Halladay embodies the Heart & Hustle Award as well as anyone.

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2009 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

A 13th-round draft pick in 1999 by the Cardinals, Albert Pujols has become one of the best hitters in the game. In 2009, Pujols once again put up dominant offensive numbers with a .327 average, 47 home runs and 135 RBI, earning him National League MVP honors. Pujols was the leading vote-getter for the 2009 All-Star Game, receiving the highest number of votes in National League history as of 2009. A three-time NL MVP, 10-time All-Star, 2001 NL Rookie of the Year, six-time Silver Slugger and two-time Gold Glove winner, Pujols is equally great off the field as well. Pujols created the Pujols Family Foundation dedicated to "the love, care and development of people with down syndrome and their families," and he leads relief efforts in his native country, the Dominican Republic. Pujols' hard work and solid character earned him the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award, which is awarded to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and individual contribution to his team. Albert Pujols is a consummate professional and one of the best ballplayers of the 21st century, making him a wonderful representative of the Heart & Hustle Award.

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2008 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore is the fourth recipient of the overall Heart & Hustle Award. During the 2008 season, Sizemore set career-highs in home runs (33), RBI (90) and stolen bases (38), and earned his second consecutive Gold Glove Award. Driven by his electric, athletic skill set, Sizemore also finished 10th in American League MVP voting, won a Silver Slugger Award and was named an All-Star for the third time in his career. A passionate, energetic player, Grady Sizemore is a fantastic representative of the Heart & Hustle Award.

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2006 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: Craig Biggio, Houston Astros

Craig Biggio spent the entirety of his career with the Houston Astros and is widely considered the best all-around position player in the club's history. During the 2006 season, Biggio had 135 hits, a .246 batting average and 21 homers. Biggio has served as a spokesperson for the Sunshine Kids Foundation for the majority of his career, which is a foundation that supports children fighting cancer by organizing exciting activities for them and their families. During his fantastic career, Biggio was a seven-time All-Star, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner and a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He also won the Branch Rickey Award in 1997 and the Hutch Award in 2005. A tough player who always gave 100 percent, Biggio represents everything that comprises the Heart & Hustle Award.

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2005 Heart & Hustle Award

Winner: David Eckstein, St. Louis Cardinals

In his first season with the St. Louis Cardinals, David Eckstein was named the Heart & Hustle Award winner for his efforts both on and off the field. During the 2005 campaign, Eckstein collected 185 hits, scored 90 runs, drove in 61 runs and posted a batting average of .294. Eckstein was an All-Star in 2005, establishing himself as a fan-favorite in St. Louis. As the inaugural winner of the Heart & Hustle Award, Eckstein embodies the spirit of baseball.