Harris Named Finalist For Gwynn Trophy

Waco, Texas – Winthrop graduate student right-handed pitcher Connor Harris has been named a finalist for the inaugural 2025 Tony Gwyn Trophy by the NCBWA.
 
A nine-member finalist group has been announced for the award, honoring NCAA baseball student-athletes who exemplify Tony Gwynn’s legacy. The Gwynn Trophy winner will be selected from this group of nine finalists, in a vote by NCBWA board members, select college baseball coaches and national media members.
 
The Gwynn Trophy, conceptualized for the 2025 season, is intended to honor collegiate baseball student-athletes who are active in their community and represent their programs with integrity, while exceling in the classroom and on the field.
 
Nominees were solicited this spring through college baseball publicists and the NCBWA membership.
 
The finalists include a decorated list of elite student-athletes, including four combined from the Big 12 Conference and the Southeastern Conference, in addition to standouts from Northern Colorado, Winthrop, Columbia, San Diego and Louisiana-Lafayette.
 
“We are honored to continue Tony’s legacy of service through the naming of this award in his honor,” his wife, Alicia Gwynn, said when the Gwynn Trophy was announced in the preseason. “Throughout his life, Tony was a man that exuded selflessness and that showed through his commitment to supporting the communities around him. His consistent quest for service and his unyielding love for college baseball make this award a great fit in honoring his legacy. We are excited to shine a spotlight on the young men who represent their schools with such grace and are committed to serving their communities.”
 
Gwynn was nationally recognized throughout his life for his unyielding commitment to philanthropy. He and Alicia, established the Tony Gwynn Foundation to help fund charities supporting children in need, including supporting the Casa de Amparo Child Abuse Shelter, the Neighborhood House, YMCA and the Police Athletic League. In 1995, Gwynn earned the Branch Rickey Award as the top community activist in MLB, and in 1999, he was named the Roberto Clemente Man of the Year. He was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame and won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, presented to the MLB player who best exemplified the character and leadership of the Hall of Fame first baseman.
 
The Gwynn family has maintained Tony’s commitment to the community, including coordinating the Tony Gwynn Community All-Star Program, which recognizes local youth who support the San Diego community.
 
Gwynn was a 15-time MLB All-Star, including won eight batting titles – the most in National League history – and finished his decorated, 20-year career with a .338 batting average. He played his entire career with the San Diego Padres, after playing collegiately at San Diego State, where he also played basketball. A 2007 Hall of Fame inductee, Gwynn saw the SDSU baseball facility named in his honor, Tony Gwynn Stadium, and served as the head coach of the Aztecs, from 2003-14, winning three Mountain West Conference Championships and earning 2014 MWC Coach of the Year honors. The Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament, held each February at Gwynn Stadium and featuring some of the top teams in the nation, has quickly become one of the best nonconference, early-season tournaments in the college baseball calendar.
 
Gwynn passed away in 2014 after a long bout with cancer. He is survived by Alicia, son Tony Jr. and daughter, Anisha Nicole. His brother Chris attended SDSU and played for the Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals. Tony Jr. also played collegiately at SDSU, earning all-league honors in 2003 before the Milwaukee Brewers drafted him in the second round. He played eight seasons in MLB, including time with the Brewers, Padres, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.
 
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association’s official Web site, www.ncbwa.com.
 
Gwynn Trophy Starting 9
Michael Brooks, R-Sr., INF, Kansas
Evan Byers, Gr., LHP, Kentucky
Tony Castonguay, Sr., C/OF, Northern Colorado

Grant Cunningham, Jr., RHP, Texas A&M
Connor Harris, Gr., RHP, Winthrop
Joe Sheets, Sr., RHP, Columbia
Austin Smith, Sr., LHP/OF, San Diego
Chris Stanfield, Jr., OF, LSU
Jose Torres, Sr., C, Louisiana
 
Harris is a graduate transfer who is in his second year at Winthrop after earning his undergraduate degree from George Washington. He Is working on his MBA in marketing at Winthrop after earning his communication’s degree from Winthrop. He currently has a 3.87 GPA at Winthrop after a 3.65 cumulative GPA at George Washington. Off the field, he earned first place with the student innovation pitch in November of 2023 and first place in the spring of 2022 on his pitch for Dream On 3 Nonprofit with a persuasive speech pitch.
 
On the field, Harris played four seasons in the nation’s capital with six career wins on the mound in 36 games with 22 starts and owned two saves. Last season in 2024 for the Eagles he made six appearances in 2024 with two starts, before making 12 starts in 2025 with a 6-3 record and 59 strikeouts and just eight walks in 58.1 innings.
 
Highly engaged in his community, working as Vice President of the Jackie and Rachel Robinson Society at George Washington, leading a team of 15-20 in planning a major event that recognized key professionals who embody the Robinson legacy, coordinating an event for more than 200 people. He was an inaugural member of College Dream On 3, GW Chapter, raising more than $8,000 to grant life-changing dream trips to children with life-threatening illnesses. He also worked as a member of Grassroots Health DC in 2022, and assisted in organizing the Dober Invitational in Farmington, Ct., a charity golf tournament with 33 teams and 25 sponsors. Harris is active as a volunteer with his local Miracle Leagues.
 
“Connor embodies what you want representing your team, your program and your institution,” Winthrop Head Baseball Coach Mike McGuire said. “He is extremely selfless and thinks of and takes time for others. He is a role model on and off the field and great with kids at local Miracle League where he goes above and beyond expectations. He makes great contributions to the community he lives in.”