At this point, there is little doubt that Jose Ramirez is the face of the Cleveland Guardians.
He has been with the franchise for all of his career, he has already signed two extensions (one considered team-friendly and the other one extremely team-friendly) and is a popular player among his teammates and the community.
Fans love him, he plays hard, he is passionate about baseball, and he gives back to the community.
What’s not to like?
Unsurprisingly, he was the Guardians’ winner of the Heart and Hustle Award.
“As if it’s any surprise, José Ramírez is our 2022 winner of the @MLBPAA Heart & Hustle Award. The epitome of what you want in a superstar,” the Guardians’ official Twitter account wrote.
The Heart & Hustle Award was created by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) in 2005.
Ramirez Embodies The Values And Traditions Of The Game
It 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.”
Alumni and current MLB players vote for one representative for each team.
Then, a winner is picked among the 30 nominees or candidates.
Atlanta Braves star second baseman Ozzie Albies won in 2021.
Ramirez won in 2021 for the Guardians, so he is not exactly a new face among nominees.
He is very active in the community, and on the field, few players show his kind of talent.
This year, he is a man on a mission: leading the Guards to the playoffs.
In 434 plate appearances, Ramirez has hit 21 home runs and is slashing .285/.359/.559, with 4.8 Wins Above Replacement.
He was selected for the All-Star Game and is the face of the Guardians franchise.
Young kids look up to him, and teammates want to be like him.
Ramirez is the fair winner of the Guardians’ Heart & Hustle Award.
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