Colorado Springs, Colo. — The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) is proud to announce Kansas City Royals infielder Bobby Witt Jr. as the overall winner of the 21st Annual Heart and Hustle Award, marking his third consecutive year receiving this honor. This award recognizes active players who exemplify a true passion for the game of baseball and embody its core values, spirit and traditions.
With his third consecutive victory, Witt Jr. makes history as the first player to win three Overall Heart and Hustle Awards, further solidifying his place among the award’s most distinguished recipients.
Witt Jr. has continued to establish himself as one of baseball’s premier players and an important presence in the Royals organization. A four-time recipient of Kansas City’s team Heart and Hustle Award, he has consistently demonstrated a combination of talent, dedication and respect for the game and those who helped shape it.
“Bobby represents our game the way it should be represented,” said MLBPAA President Jim Thome. “Winning this award three years in a row says a lot about the kind of player and person he is. It takes an incredible amount of hard work, dedication and consistency to accomplish something like this. When you look at everything he brings to the game, both on and off the field, there’s no one who represents it better than Bobby Witt Jr.”
He has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches through his approach to the game and contributions in the clubhouse, while also making an impact throughout the Kansas City community. Witt Jr. has supported charitable causes, including those focused on ALS awareness, and helps provide baseball opportunities for local youth through clinics. His dedication to the game, support of his fellow players and commitment to giving back reflect the values the MLBPAA works to celebrate and preserve, both on and off the field.
The MLBPAA formed 30 committees, each composed of Alumni players with established relationships to their respective teams, to select the 30 team award winners. Fans, along with current and former MLBPAA player members, then voted to determine the overall winner. With former Major League players playing an integral role in the selection process, the Heart and Hustle Award carries special significance as a recognition of the dedication, character and passion that define the game. Witt Jr. further adds to his place along a distinguished group of past recipients who have demonstrated those qualities throughout their careers.
Past Overall Heart and Hustle Award winners include David Eckstein (2005), Craig Biggio (2006, 2007), Grady Sizemore (2008), Albert Pujols (2009), Roy Halladay (2010), Torii Hunter (2011), Mike Trout (2012), Dustin Pedroia (2013), Josh Harrison (2014), Anthony Rizzo (2015), Todd Frazier (2016), Brett Gardner (2017), Mookie Betts (2018), Howie Kendrick (2019), Ozzie Albies (2021), Paul Goldschmidt (2022), Marcus Semien (2023) and Bobby Witt Jr. (2024, 2025). No award was presented in 2020 due to COVID-19.
For more information regarding the Heart and Hustle Award, please contact Kendall Meisner by e-mail at Kendall@MLBPAA.com.
To learn more about the MLBPAA, please visit www.baseballalumni.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X (@MLBPAA).