The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced on May 6 that BYU relief pitcher Ashton Johnson has been named to the Tony Gwynn Community Service Trophy Starting Nine.
The recognition highlights student-athletes in collegiate baseball who are active in their communities, demonstrate integrity, and excel both academically and athletically. The annual Gwynn Trophy winner will be chosen from these nine finalists by a vote among NCBWA board members, select college baseball coaches, and national media members.
Johnson is a senior left-handed pitcher from Holladay, Utah. Since joining BYU as a junior college transfer from the College of Southern Idaho in 2024, he has appeared in 42 games. Over two seasons at BYU, Johnson holds a record of 6-5 with seven saves and an earned run average of 3.66 across 86 innings pitched. He has struck out 69 batters while allowing just 24 walks. Academically, Johnson majors in neuroscience with a cumulative GPA of 3.85 and was previously named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team as well as earning the Big 12 Gerald Lage Award for athletic and academic excellence.
Johnson’s community service includes membership on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), representing BYU at the Big 12 Career Tour in Dallas in 2025, participating with organizations such as the KIND Fund to provide school clothes for children in need, Mac’s Gift Children’s Cancer Foundation supporting families dealing with childhood cancer during Christmas, volunteering at BYU Sports Hero Day teaching youth baseball skills, and working with Sole Hope to send shoes to children in Uganda.
“Ashton embodies what BYU baseball is all about on the field, in the classroom and in the service he performs,” said BYU head baseball coach Trent Pratt. “In addition to his success on the mound, he has been actively involved in a wide variety of service, including several projects to help families in need both locally and internationally. Ashton is also a model student-athlete with a 3.85 cumulative GPA in neuroscience and plans to attend medical school. He represents all that is great about collegiate athletics.”
Other finalists for this year’s trophy include Chris Stanfield (LSU), Lee Amedee (Louisiana), Lorenzo Carrier (Pitt), Bryce Chance (Mississippi State), Camden Kozeal (Arkansas), Chayton Krauss (Dallas Baptist University), Zion Rose (Louisville) and Troy Sudbrook (Toledo). The award honors Tony Gwynn’s legacy of philanthropy throughout his life.
