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Yankees make Paul Goldschmidt announcement.<\/p>\n
The New York Yankees<\/a> made a major announcement on slugger Paul Goldschmidt before their series against the Atlanta Braves<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association announced the winners of the Heart & Hustle awards for each team. New York\u2019s winner was Goldschmidt.<\/p>\n Congratulations to the recipients of this year\u2019s @MLBPAA<\/a> Heart & Hustle Award! \ud83d\udc4f <\/p>\n According to<\/a>\u00a0MLB, the Heart & Hustle award \u201cIs presented annually to active players who exemplify a true passion for the game and who best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game. The Heart and Hustle Award is the only award in Major League Baseball that is voted on by former players. Voting for team winners is conducted prior to the All-Star break.\u201d<\/p>\n Goldschmidt is in his second season with the Yankees. It\u2019s also the second-straight season the first baseman has won the award.<\/p>\n The 38-year-old is beloved in the Yankees\u2019 locker room, and it\u2019s clear the alumni also appreciate him, as he was named their award winner.<\/p>\n Goldschmidt is hitting .247 with 16 home runs and 44 RBIs<\/a> with the Yankees this season.<\/p>\n Goldschmidt Having Success With Yankees<\/p>\n With the Yankees dealing with some key injuries, Goldschmidt has stepped up and played well.<\/p>\n Entering the year, Goldschmidt wasn\u2019t sure what his role would be. But, he returned to the Yankees because he loved the room.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think there was a sales pitch,\u201d Goldschmidt said<\/a>. \u201cI just loved these guys, I enjoyed even the times last year when I wasn\u2019t playing, and that\u2019s not always the case. Even the beginning of this year, I wasn\u2019t playing that much, but I was still having so much fun showing up every day with these guys.\u201d<\/p>\n The Yankees planned to use Ben Rice<\/a> as their starting first baseman and Giancarlo Stanton as the DH. Yet, due to injuries, Goldschmidt started to play more, but after the trade deadline, Goldschmidt\u2019s role declined.<\/p>\n However, the seven-time All-Star and former NL MVP is still playing a key role for the Yankees on and off the field.<\/p>\n New York Hopeful to Get Judge Back<\/p>\n While Goldschmidt was named an award winner, the Yankees are still waiting for AL MVP winner Aaron Judge<\/a> to return.<\/p>\n Judge is on the IL, and he makes it clear he will return this season.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be back this season,\u201d Judge said<\/a>. \u201cI don\u2019t know why I wouldn\u2019t be. That was always the plan, to come back sooner than later, definitely. I never had a thought of not playing this year. \u2026 I just got the scan (Tuesday). And the minute they said we\u2019re going to start running, I said, \u2018All right, I\u2019ll see you outside,\u2019\u201d Judge said. \u201cI kind of forced them on that one. Hopefully whenever we get a game plan, you guys will be somewhere on the list and we\u2019ll let you guys know.\u201d<\/p>\n The Yankees are 64-51 and 4.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays<\/a> for the top spot in the AL East.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tCole Shelton<\/a> Cole Shelton covers the NHL, MLB, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t