OMAHA, Neb. (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has announced Louisiana senior infielder Lee Amedee as the second annual winner of the Tony Gwynn Community Service Trophy, in a vote of NCBWA board members, collegiate baseball coaches and media members.
Amedee, a native of Gonzales, La., is the second annual winner of the Gwynn Trophy. He was selected in a national vote amongst the nine finalists of the Gwynn Trophy ‘Starting 9’, that included a decorated list of elite student-athletes, including the winner of the award in 2025, LSU outfielder Chris Stanfield.
The nine finalists represent six different conferences, including the ACC, Big 12, SEC, CUSA and the MAC. Included in the finalist list are Stanfield, Louisiana infielder Lee Amedee, Pitt outfielder Lorenzo Carrier, Mississippi State outfielder Bryce Chance, BYU reliever Ashton Johnson, Arkansas infielder Camden Kozeal, DBU infielder Chayton Krauss, Louisville outfielder Zion Rose and Toledo outfielder Troy Sudbrook.
“It means the world to me to receive the Tony Gwynn Community Award,” Amedee said. “I’m honored to represent the University of Louisiana and the Ragin’ Cajuns Baseball program with this award. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, and family for making me the man I am today.”
Amedee has been a fixture in the lineup and community for the powerhouse Ragin’ Cajuns over his career. He finished his time at UL playing in 199 games with 167 starts. He hit .286 (174-for-609) with 102 runs, 40 doubles, six triples, 13 homers and 125 RBI, stealing 16 bases. In 2026, Amdee played in 66 games with 65 starts, hitting .300 with 47 runs, 12 doubles, four triples, seven homers and 54 RBI, with seven steals.
In the community, Amedee volunteered over 1,000 hours. He was a volunteer for four straight years as a coach at the Lafayette Little League, works at Wisdom Catholic Church and Bayou Church as a volunteer on the clean-up crew and has visited cancer patients at Lourdes Children’s Hospital for four years, including snack delivery for Halloween. He has volunteered to clean up at the local fire station and wash fire trucks, attends the Tony Robichaux Prayer Breakfast to raise money for Wisdom Catholic Church construction and volunteered to set up for the Broussard Community fair for the St. Cecilia Catholic School, also spending time with first graders at St. Cecilia. He has volunteered for four years at the Lafayette Downtown Alive event, has helped new students move in on campus move-in day for four years and volunteered to help work a baseball clinic at the Youngsville Sports Complex. Amedee has volunteered with a special needs clinic and games at the Youngsville Sports Complex, participated in a 5K fundraiser to help with awareness for the rare Usher Syndrome and worked as a volunteer at the UL Dinosaur Museum, helping move exhibits. He volunteered to set up for Christmas décor at the Hospice of Acadiana and has pressure washed the baseball stadium for four years as part of a stadium clean-up volunteer project. He volunteered to help put on a clinic for less fortunate kids in a community of Church Point and is a fixture at youth soccer, softball and baseball games in the region for the last two years.
“Lee Amedee embodies everything the Tony Gwynn Community Award represents – selfless service, leadership and an unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of others,” UL head coach Matt Deggs said. “This honor is a testament not only to the impact he has made on the baseball field, but to the countless hours he has dedicated to serving the Lafayette community and representing both the University of Louisiana and Ragin’ Cajuns Baseball with integrity, humility and compassion. We couldn’t be more proud of Lee and the example he sets for everyone around him.”
“Lee Amedee is currently in his fourth season at The University of Louisiana,” Matt Sullivan, Louisiana Director of Athletics Communication said. “It is extremely rare to find a young man in college that is at the same school that he started at four years prior. He has been extremely loyal and committed to the University, the baseball program and the city of Lafayette. Lee is currently serving as the team captain as a senior and has completed over 1,000 hours of community service in his time at UL. Lee is more than deserving of this amazing honor. To show what he stands for, last summer (’25), Lee turned down a six-figure opportunity with the St Louis Cardinals in the 11th round to return to his dream school. He did this while sitting in the bleachers at the Louisiana State 10/11-Year Old Softball Championship with his teammates cheering on the local team and one of his coaches’ daughters. Lee has one niece, Milly, who is suffering from a rare cancer at the age of two. She has moved to St. Jude’s in Memphis, Tennessee, to start chemo and treatment. It has really worn on him, but he plays for her. Lee has volunteered for multiple service opportunities throughout his career but maybe the most impressive is his time spent at Wisdom Catholic Church on campus at UL.”
The Gwynn Trophy, conceptualized for the 2025 season, honors collegiate baseball student-athletes who are active in their community and represent their programs with integrity, while excelling in the classroom and on the field. The Gwynn Trophy was created to honor Tony’s legacy and the unyielding commitment to his community and the advancement of collegiate baseball. A 15-time MLB All-Star who won eight batting titles, hitting .338 over his 20-year MLB career, played collegiately at San Diego State before serving as the head coach of the Aztecs from 2003-14.
Nominees were solicited this spring through college baseball publicists and the NCBWA membership.
About the Gwynn Trophy
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.
About the NCBWA
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, ncbwa.com.