Mangum Named Rays' Heart & Hustle Award Winner

The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association on Tuesday announced the winners of the 2025 Heart and Hustle Award, with 2024-25 Bulls outfielder Jake Mangum being named the Tampa Bay Rays' individual team winner.

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In its 20th year, the award is presented to the active players who "exemplify a true passion for the game and who best embody the values, spirit, and tradition of the game." It is the only award voted on by former players, as each team's winner is chosen by a committee of alumni. The overall winner will be chosen from the pool of team winners by a combination of alumni and fan votes.

Since making his Triple-A debut with the Rays on March 30 this year, Mangum has accumulated a .281 avereage (74-263), adding 25 runs, 11 doubles, one triple, two homers and 28 RBI, adding 16 steals in 19 attempts. The 29-year-old also appeared in five games with Durham this season as part of a Major League Rehab Assignment, batting .444 (8-18) with two runs, one double and three RBI.

Mangum spent the entire 2024 campaign with Durham, winning the International League's Batting Title with a .317 batting average (126-398), adding 57 runs, 30 doubles, one triple, six homers and 56 RBI in 104 contests, in addition to 20 steals in 28 attempts. In 438 career minor league contests he has combined for a .297 clip (505-1699) along with 257 runs, 102 doubles, 21 triples, 24 homers and 212 RBI, adding 81 steals in 110 tries.

He was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays in a December 8, 2023 trade from the Miami Marlins and originally selected by the New York Mets in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Mississippi State University.

The Bulls continue their 12-game road trip by beginning a six-game road series this evening versus the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:45pm ET.

Following their road trip, Durham returns to the DBAP on Tuesday, August 12, for a six-game homestand versus the Nashville Sounds, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. First pitch of the series opener is set for 6:35pm.

Tickets for that game and all remaining 2025 Bulls home contests are available by clicking here.