KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association this morning announced on MLB Network that Bobby Witt Jr. has been named the overall Heart & Hustle Award winner for the third consecutive season.
Created by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association in 2005, the Heart & Hustle Award is voted on by alumni and active Major League players and is presented annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.
The MLBPAA formed 30 committees, comprised of alumni players with established relationships to each team. One player from each Major League team is chosen by the committees based on the passion, desire and work ethic demonstrated both on and off the field. As the season draws to a close, fans, all Alumni and active players vote to select the final winner from the 30 team winners.
Witt Jr. has been Kansas City’s nominee in each of his first five Major League seasons. Since the award was established in 2005, he’s the only player to win the award three times. Prior to Witt Jr., the only two-time winner was Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, who was named the Heart & Hustle winner in 2006 and 2007.
Witt Jr., 26, slashed .281/.359/.441 (157-for-558) this season with 94 runs, 33 doubles, 18 home runs, 54 RBI, 45 stolen bases and an .800 OPS in 143 games. He ranked among the American League leaders in stolen bases (2nd), doubles (T-6th), hits (9th), runs (9th) and batting average (T-9th) and his 7.0 fWAR ranked 2nd in the Majors, trailing only Pete Crow-Armstrong (10.6).
Yesterday, Witt Jr. was named a finalist for the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award at shortstop, after winning the honor in each of the last two seasons (2024-25). Should he win again for 2026, he would be the first American League shortstop to earn the honor in three straight seasons since Derek Jeter (4, 2006-09).
Witt Jr. ranked 3rd in the Majors and led the American League with 24 Outs Above Average, according to Baseball Savant, and was a finalist for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award after winning the honor each of the last two seasons (2024-25).
Witt Jr. is the first Royals player to hit at least 10 home runs in each of his first five seasons and the first player in Major League history with at least 10 HR and 25 stolen bases in each of his first five seasons. He’s the fourth player in the Modern Era (since 1900) with at least 30 steals in each of his first five seasons, joining Ichiro Suzuki (2001-05), Vince Coleman (1985-89) and Rickey Henderson (1979-83), who owns the Major League record (1st 15 seasons).