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Willson Contreras did not need much time to prove that he belonged with the Boston Red Sox. Now, the veteran first baseman has received an honor that recognizes more than his impressive statistics. Contreras was named Boston’s 2026 Heart and Hustle Award winner Friday. The annual honor recognizes active players who demonstrate passion for baseball while embodying the sport’s values, traditions and competitive spirit. “Had to be,” the Red Sox wrote while announcing the selection on social media. Considering Contreras’ performance and presence during his first season in Boston, it is difficult to argue with that assessment. Willson Contreras Makes Immediate Impact The Red Sox acquired Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals in December, hoping his power and experience could strengthen a lineup with serious questions at first base. He has delivered considerably more than stability. Had to be. Willson is our 2026 Heart & Hustle Award Winner! pic.twitter.com/r1aaSq1awv Contreras entered Friday batting .288 with 23 home runs and 70 RBIs. He earned the fourth All-Star selection of his career in July after reaching 20 home runs during the first half. The 34-year-old has also provided a combination of intensity and toughness that cannot be measured through a box score. Contreras has never been shy about showing emotion. His aggressive style can occasionally bring him close to the line, but it has also made him a natural fit on a Red Sox team that has completely changed the direction of its season. Boston was 14 games below .500 earlier this summer. The Red Sox entered Friday at 63-51 after winning eight consecutive games and 31 of their past 36. Contreras has been one of the central figures in that remarkable turnaround. Over his past 30 games, he produced a .309 batting average, a .444 on-base percentage and a .596 slugging percentage. His ability to reach base and deliver power in the middle of the lineup has helped Boston become one of baseball’s most dangerous teams. Heart And Hustle Award Carries Special Meaning The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association selects one Heart and Hustle Award winner from every team. Committees consisting of former players with connections to each organization vote on the team recipients. That makes it the only MLB award determined by former players. The voting was completed before the All-Star break, meaning Contreras had already made a powerful impression during his first few months in Boston. All 30 team winners will be eligible for the league-wide Heart and Hustle Award. MLB alumni and fans will vote on the overall recipient, who will be announced on MLB Network in mid-November. Former Red Sox stars Dustin Pedroia and Mookie Betts previously captured the overall honor. Pedroia won in 2013, while Betts received it in 2018. Both players earned the award during World Series-winning seasons for Boston. Bobby Witt Jr. has won the past two overall awards and will represent the Kansas City Royals again in 2026. MORE: Red Sox Have Perfect Chance To Stay Red Hot Before Yankees Showdown Contreras Has Become Essential To Red Sox Contreras’ first season in Boston has already included an All-Star selection, a serious postseason race and now recognition from former major leaguers. His value has become even more apparent with Triston Casas still unavailable. Contreras has started more than 100 games at first base, giving the Red Sox the everyday presence they desperately needed at the position. He also continues producing important moments. Contreras hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning of Boston’s 5-4 victory over the Athletics on July 30. He then drove in three runs during the Red Sox’s series-opening rout of the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Boston acquired Contreras because it needed another proven hitter. The Red Sox quickly discovered that they were getting far more. His energy, durability and relentless approach have helped set the tone for one of the most stunning turnarounds in baseball. The Heart and Hustle Award does not guarantee Contreras will be the overall winner in November. It does confirm that his impact in Boston has been impossible to overlook.