Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies was named the overall winner of the 2021 Heart and Hustle Award, which is presented annually by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) to one player on each team who “best embodies the values, spirits and traditions of baseball,” along with factoring in on-field performance.
Chris Taylor was the Dodgers’ recipient of this year’s Heart and Hustle Award. “He’s invaluable,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said earlier this year.
“Having your regular players out, and for him to step up, play a premium defensive position and have a huge day offensively, we needed every bit of it. That’s why I just think so highly of the person and the player.”
Recent team winners include Max Muncy (2019), Matt Kemp (2018), Justin Turner (2017), Chase Utley (2016) and Joc Pederson (2015). The Dodgers are yet to have an overall Heart and Hustle Award winner.
The team-specific Heart and Hustle Award is the only MLB honor that is voted on exclusively by former players. The MLBPAA formed 30 committees comprised of alumni with established relationships to each team. Fans, the aforementioned former players and active players then voted to select the final winner from 30 team recipients.
Albies batted .259/.310/.488 with 40 doubles, 30 home runs and 106 RBI en route to earning a second All-Star Game appearance and his second career Silver Slugger Award.
Off the field, Albies gives back to his home island during the annual Curaçao Baseball Week, and has a line of t-shirts where 5% of every purchase is donated to a charity chosen by fans.
All-time Heart and Hustle Award winners
2005: David Eckstein
2006: Craig Biggio
2007: Craig Biggio
2008: Grady Sizemore
2009: Albert Pujols
2010: Roy Halladay
2011: Torii Hunter
2012: Mike Trout
2013: Dustin Pedroia
2014: Josh Harrison
2015: Anthony Rizzo
2016: Todd Frazier
2017: Brett Gardner
2018: Mookie Betts
2019: Howie Kendrick
2020: N/A due to pandemic
2021: Ozzie Albies
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