Kiermaier wins 2015 Heart & Hustle Award for Rays
Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier was named the Tampa Bay Rays' 2015 Heart & Hustle Award recipient on Tuesday morning.
The award, given out by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), "honors active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game." It is voted on by former players, according to its site.
Its an honor to be nominated for the heart & hustle award..we cant control our results everyday but we can control our effort level #hustlin
— Kevin Kiermaier (@KKiermaier39) July 21, 2015
This marks the second straight year Kiermaier has earned the accolade. He is batting .250 with 19 doubles, a major league-leading 10 triples, four homers and 16 RBI in 90 games during his second full big-league season.
But it's his stellar defense that sets him apart. The former 31st-round selection has a .996 fielding percentage (sixth in the American League) and eight assists (fifth) so far this season. His highlight-reel plays have become the norm.
The final winner will be announced on Nov. 10 in New York City. The event is a fundraiser for free Legends for Youth baseball clinics that reach out to more than 15,000 children at 120 clinics.
