This time, Detroit Tigers catcher Eric Haase wasn't mowing his lawn.
He was pushing his lawn mower across his backyard in early August 2021, when the organization called to inform Haase he had been named American League Rookie of the Month for July. One year later, the 29-year-old notched another award.
Haase — who grew up in Westland and now lives in Livonia — is the Tigers' winner of the 2022 Heart and Hustle Award, announced Thursday by the MLB Players Alumni Association. The MLB winner will be announced in mid-November on MLB Network.