Murphy and Zimmerman to be honored before games this week

The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association will recognize second baseman Daniel Murphy as the Nationals' 2016 Heart and Hustle Award winner before tonight's game against the Braves.

The award honors active players who demonstrate a passion for baseball and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game. The Heart and Hustle Award is the only award in Major League Baseball that is voted on by former players.

Nationals manager Dusty Baker has noticed how seriously Murphy takes his preparation for each game.

"I got a doctor friend of mine that is into breathing and stretching," Baker said. "They came to a game and they told me that Daniel Murphy does it perfectly and does it better than anybody else on the team, his pregame stretching routine. You watch him. He's out on a bench during the game even when he's off, which is rare.

"He's the first one out there getting ready, getting his psych on and getting his stretching on prior to a game. The way he goes about his business is contagious and you'll see more and more guys doing it the more success he has. It has nothing to do with his stats or anything like that. It has to do with how he goes about his business."

Murphy also talks baseball all the time and is a true student of the game, even as a veteran of so many seasons.

"It's hard to be a good doctor without talking medicine," Baker said. "He's not only teaching, but he's learning as he's teaching. Guys listen to him and they should listen to him. It's great."

What is interesting is to watch Murphy when he steps into the batter's box. Notice how he interacts with the opposing catcher and the home plate umpire. Many times he will continue a conversation with them during his entire at-bat.

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been named the Nationals' 2016 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, the most prominent individual player award bestowed by MLB.

The Roberto Clemente Award is the annual recognition of a player from each major league club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

Fans can vote for Zimmerman on Twitter and Facebook by employing the hashtag #VoteZIM.

Zimmerman will be honored during a pregame ceremony on Sept. 7. The Pirates' Andrew McCutchen took home the 2015 award.

Zimmerman is best known in the community for his work in the ziMS Foundation, which he founded in 2006, his first full season in the majors.

The ziMS Foundation aims to raise money and awareness for programs benefiting those afflicted with multiple sclerosis. In 1995, Zimmerman's mother Cheryl was diagnosed with MS, a chronic and unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system.