Ruiz wins Phillies' Heart and Hustle Award

PHILADELPHIA -- Carlos Ruiz, the Phillies' first-half MVP and a 2012 All-Star, was presented with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association Heart and Hustle Award before Friday night's game against the Giants.

The Phillies' catcher is one of 30 preliminary winners. The final winner will be announced on Nov. 13.

The award, which was presented by former Phillie Greg Luzinski on behalf of the MLBPAA, rewarded every year to the player "who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game."

Ruiz is certainly deserving of the honor. He entered Friday fourth in the Majors with a .350 batting average. Through 84 games, he's shattered his career high in homers with 14 and, with 51 RBIs, should soon surpass his career-high 54.

Roy Halladay was the 2010 recipient of the award, which is voted on by former players.