Zach Neto was named the Los Angeles Angels’ winner of the 2023 Heart and Hustle Award, which is presented annually by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) to one player on each team who “best embodies the values, spirits and traditions of baseball,” along with factoring in on-field performance.
Neto wins his first team Heart and Hustle Award in his rookie season. That inaugural award went to David Eckstein of the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Heart and Hustle Award is the only honor in MLB that is voted on by former players, which is conducted prior to the All-Star break.
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 their passion, desire and work ethic demonstrated both on and off the field.
Neto joins the likes the Jared Walsh (2022), David Fletcher (2021 and 2019) and Mike Trout (four times — 2018, 2015, 2014, 2012) as recent Angels to be voted the team’s winner.
The Angels have had two previous winners of the overall Heart and Hustle Award, which will be announced in mid-November on MLB Network. Trout won the award in 2012 and Torii Hunter was the 2011 winner.
A Heart and Hustle Award was not presented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior overall winners are Eckstein (2005), Craig Biggio (2006, 2007), Grady Sizemore (2008), Albert Pujols (2009), Roy Halladay (2010), Torii Hunter (2011), Mike Trout (2012), Dustin Pedroia (2013), Josh Harrison (2014), Anthony Rizzo (2015), Todd Frazier (2016), Brett Gardner (2017), Mookie Betts (2018), Howie Kendrick (2019), Ozzie Albies (2021) and Paul Goldschmidt (2002).
Team winners of 2023 Heart & Hustle Award
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll
Atlanta Braves: Austin Riley
Chicago Cubs: Nico Hoerner
Cincinnati Reds: TJ Friedl
Colorado Rockies: Elias Díaz
Los Angeles Dodgers: Freddie Freeman
Miami Marlins: Luis Arraez
Milwaukee Brewers: Christian Yelich
New York Mets: Brandon Nimmo
Philadelphia Phillies: Garrett Stubbs
Pittsburgh Pirates: David Bednar
San Diego Padres: Ha-Seong Kim
San Francisco Giants: LaMonte Wade Jr.
St. Louis Cardinals: Brendan Donovan
Washington Nationals: Lane Thomas
American League
Baltimore Orioles: Anthony Santander
Boston Red Sox: Justin Turner
Chicago White Sox: Andrew Benintendi
Cleveland Guardians: José Ramírez
Detroit Tigers: Matt Vierling
Houston Astros: Kyle Tucker
Kansas City Royals: Bobby Witt Jr.
Los Angeles Angels: Zach Neto
Minnesota Twins: Pablo López
New York Yankees: Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Oakland Athletics: Carlos Pérez
Seattle Mariners: J.P. Crawford
Tampa Bay Rays: Randy Arozarena
Texas Rangers: Marcus Semien
Toronto Blue Jays: Daulton Varsho