HOUSTON — For the second straight year, Nelson Cruz was named the Mariners recipient of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association’s (MLBPAA) Heart and Hustle Award.
The award “honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game,” and is voted on by former MLB players.
“We are proud to present Nelson with the Heart and Hustle Award again,” MLBPAA chief executive officer Dan Foster said in a press release. “His work with the Boomstick23 Foundation using sports and education to make a difference in children’s lives embodies the spirit of this award.