The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association on Thursday announced on MLB Network that Bobby Witt Jr. has been named the overall Heart & Hustle Award winner for the second 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 four Major League seasons. Since the award was established in 2005, he’s the second player to win the award twice, joining Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, who was named the Heart & Hustle winner in 2006 and 2007.
Witt Jr., 25, has led the Majors in hits in each of the last two seasons, becoming the first player to accomplish that feat (excluding 2020) since Whit Merrifield did so for the Royals from 2018-19. Witt Jr. also led the Majors with 47 doubles in 2025.
He slashed .295/.351/.501 (184-for-623) in 157 games with Kansas City in 2025 and recorded 23 home runs and 38 stolen bases, becoming the first player in Major League history with at least 20 HR and 30 steals in each of his first four big league seasons.
Witt Jr. has already been recognized this offseason with a Rawlings Platinum Glove Award, which recognizes the best defender in each league. He’s also been named a Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner, a Silver Slugger Award winner and First Team All-MLB at shortstop, all for the second straight season. He’s also been named Royals Les Milgram Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive season.
