Riley Greene named Detroit Tigers' winner of Heart and Hustle Award from MLB alumni

Riley Greene, an All-Star outfielder, is representing the Detroit Tigers as the team's winner of the Heart and Hustle Award. The award is presented annually to one player from each team by the MLB Players Alumni Association.

It's voted on by active and former players.

By the end of the season, there will be a vote — of fans, active players and former players — to determine the winner of the leaguewide Heart and Hustle Award. The Tigers have never had an overall winner since the creation of the award in 2005.

ALL-STAR RILEY:Tigers' Riley Greene makes 2024 MLB All-Star Game after fan voting overlooked him

"It's awesome," said Greene, also a first-time All-Star this season. "It's voted on by the alumni, so people that know the game and who have been around the game, I feel like it means more, just because they know what they're looking at. So, yeah, it means a lot."

There's no doubt Greene is worthy of the award.

Manager A.J. Hinch couldn't agree more.

"Really, everything about the award describes Riley Greene," Hinch said. "If you look at the way he plays, the way he approaches his day-to-day, the care factor. I know it's somewhat symbolic, but the uniform is always dirty, the dives in the outfield, the effort, he completes plays. It's the definition of what that award is all about."

[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple,Spotify) ]

This season, Greene is hitting .264 with 17 home runs, 51 walks and 109 strikeouts across 101 games. He has developed into one of the best young players in baseball throughout his three-year MLB career. His .842 OPS ranks 22nd among 146 qualified hitters.

Greene hasn't played since July 25 with a right hamstring strain.

"I'm glad he's getting recognized," Hinch said. "He deserves it. We miss him in the lineup right now. We'll get him back hopefully sometime soon. If you have a young kid at home, or if you have an aspiring player, and you look at Riley Greene for guidance and somebody to idolize, you're on the right track."

Award history

The Tigers' Heart and Hustle Award winners since 2010:

2010: Brandon Inge.

2011: Alex Avila.

2012: Austin Jackson.

2013: Don Kelly.

2014: Don Kelly.

2015: James McCann.

2016: Ian Kinsler.

2017: Ian Kinsler.

2018: JaCoby Jones.

2019: Niko Goodrum.

2021: Robbie Grossman.

2022: Eric Haase.

2023: Matt Vierling.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.