Dodgers News: Max Muncy Wins Heart and Hustle Award
Max Muncy has been named the Dodgers’ winner of the 2019 Heart and Hustle Award that is described as the player who ‘best embodies the values, spirit, and traditions of the game’.
Max Muncy has been named the Dodgers’ 2019 #HeartandHustle Award winner for best embodying the values, spirit and traditions of the game, @MLBPAA announced today.
The final MLB winner will be announced Nov. 7.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) July 16, 2019
Muncy was named an All-Star for the first time this year and has anchored the Dodgers’ offense, posting a .267 batting average and .903 on-base plus slugging to go along with 3.2 wins above replacement. He has done everything that manager Dave Roberts has asked of him and then some.
He has been terrific defensively this year and has bounced around the infield, playing first base, second base, and third base in varying amounts of innings totals.
Of course, the Max Muncy story is a good one. Drafted by the A’s in 2012, he made his big league debut with Oakland in 2015, but hit a combined .195 over two seasons and was out of the league by the age of 26. After being cut loose by Oakland, he was picked up by the Dodgers in 2017, as he reworked his swing and approach before becoming a stalwart in the LA offense in 2018 and 2019, and providing countless moments and clutch home runs in blue.
Muncy truly embodies exactly what this award asks a player to in that his heart and hustle on the field rivals anyone in baseball. Just look at his story and tell me he doesn’t have heart.
Congratulations to Max Muncy on winning the Dodgers’ 2019 Heart and Hustle Award.
I agree!! I am a huge fan of Mad Max. Love his gritty at bats and love of the game. And he is still not in his prime.