Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier has won the team’s Heart and Hustle Award. It’s another honor for Dozier, who became the first Twins player since 2009 to compete in MLB’s All-Star Home Run Derby.
The award is sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and it’s given to players for “their passion, desire and work ethic demonstrated both on and off the field.”
Dozier will receive the award before the Sept. 7 home game against the Los Angeles Angels.
Dozier has only missed two games this season. According to the Pioneer Press, he said he was honored to be included in a list of past winners that includes his former mentor Jamey Carroll in 2012.
Twinsights: Brian Dozier says #mntwins Heart and Hustle Award is something he "definitely treasures." http://t.co/3lawzfv40I
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) July 22, 2014
“Jamey Carroll is probably my favorite player,” Dozier said. “It’s pretty good company. Guys that play through issues that type of stuff with their body and still manage to play the game well and at a high intensity, still running balls out, I enjoy that more than anything.”
He has been the Twins’ best all-around player this season. Dozier is batting .234 with a team leading 18 home runs and leads the American League with 71 runs scored, coming into the games on Tuesday.
Fans, alumni and active players vote to select this year’s overall winner.
The previous winners of the award include David Eckstein (2005), Craig Biggio (2006,07), Grady Sizemore (2008), Albert Pujols (2009), Roy Halladay (2010), Torii Hunter (2011), Mike Trout (2012) and Dustin Pedroia (2013).
The overall winner will be named Nov. 18 during a dinner in New York City.
