OMAHA, Neb.- Mariner High School graduate Mike Zunino has been named the winner of the Dick Howser Trophy signifying college baseball's player of the year.
The University of Florida catcher is the first Gators player to win the award in its 26-year history. He received the award Friday at a news conference at TD Ameritrade Park.
The two-time All-American was the No. 3 overall pick by the Seattle Mariners in this month's first-year player draft, the Gators' highest pick. He's Florida's first first-round draft pick since 2007.
Zunino, of Cape Coral, is batting .322 with 19 home runs and 64 RBI. He leads the Gators (47-18) against South Carolina (45-17) Saturday in the College World Series.
He's the guest of honor at the College Baseball Foundation's Night of Champions June 30 in Lubbock, Texas.
Past Howser Trophy Winners
2011 - Taylor Jungmann, p, Texas
2010 - Anthony Rendon, 3b, Rice
2009 - Stephen Strasburg, p, San Diego State
2008 - Buster Posey, c, Florida State
2007 - David Price, p, Vanderbilt
2006 - Brad Lincoln, p, Houston
2005 - Alex Gordon, 3b, Nebraska
2004 - Jered Weaver, p, Long Beach State
2003 - Rickie Weeks, inf, Southern U.
2002 - Khalil Greene, ss, Clemson
2001 - Mark Prior, p, Southern Cal
2000 - Mark Teixeira, 3b, Georgia Tech
1999 - Jason Jennings, p-dh, Baylor
1998 - Eddy Furniss, 1b, LSU
1997 - J.D. Drew, of, Florida State
1996 - Kris Benson, p, Clemson
1995 - Todd Helton, 1b, Tennessee
1994 - Jason Varitek, c, Georgia Tech
1993 - Brooks Kieschnick, of-p, Texas
1992 - Brooks Kieschnick, of-p, Texas
1991 - Frank Rodriguez, p, Howard
1990 - Alex Fernandez, p, Miami-Dade South
1989 - Scott Bryant, of-p, Texas
1988 - Robin Ventura, 3b, Oklahoma State
1987 - Mike Fiore, of, Miami
