By Darren
Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
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| Garrett Hawkins throws a pitch at the Indoor Training Centre. |
On the
second day the 2021 MLB Draft this past July 12, the hard-throwing right-handed
pitcher from Biggar, Sask., was selected in the ninth round and 280th
overall by the San Diego Padres. The draft selection was a huge highlight for
the 21-year-old, but he knew the long journey to try and become an everyday MLB
player continued.
“It was pretty exciting just knowing that all the hard work
had paid off,” said Hawkins, who towers on the mound at 6-foot-5 and weighs 230
pounds. “You kind of got to a point that you’re just proud of yourself and
proud of everyone that kind of contributed to it.
“Not to say that the work isn’t done. There is still a lot
more to do, but it is a good first step for sure.”
Hawkins, who trains in the off-season at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, had been playing for the New Jersey state capital-based Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft league at the time he was selected by the Padres.
With
the Thunder, Hawkins started six games posting a 1-0 record, a 2.63 ERA, 32
strikeouts while giving up two walks in 24 innings of work.
Shortly after being drafted, Hawkins traveled to Peoria,
Arizona, to join the Padres rookie team that plays in the 18-club Arizona
Complex League.
With the ACL Padres, Hawkins put up solid numbers. The
graduate of the Saskatoon Giants under-18 AAA program appeared in seven games
with the ACL Padres posting a 3-1 record, a 2.35 ERA, 27 strikeouts while
giving up two walks in 15.1 innings.
“I enjoyed it,” said Hawkins, whose main pitches are the fastball, slider and change up. “I just kind of got my toes wet in how it all works going forward.
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| Garrett Hawkins was picked in the MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. |
Hawkins said he benefitted from the fact he got some real
good coaching with the ACL Padres, which he thought helped his performance on
the field.
“I think I just kind of maybe took another step once I got
there,” said Hawkins, who can throw his fastball at 93 to 95 miles per hour.
“Eventually, something stuck, and I kind of just used it to my advantage.
“I think just the increased input from the coaching staff
and all that helped a lot.”
Throughout his life, Hawkins said baseball was the sport he
was always the most passionate about. That passion took root from simple
beginnings.
“I kind of just started playing baseball at a young age
playing catch with my dad (Ian Hawkins) at home,” said Hawkins. “Eventually, I
was just playing minor baseball.
“All my friends were kind of doing it at the time.”
When he started playing minor baseball, Hawkins said he started to experience success on the mound early on.
“I’d say it happened right away,” said Hawkins. “Obviously, I hit and pitched at a younger age, but I kind of had a knack for pitching when I was younger.”
Hawkins ultimately caught the eyes of the high-performance coaches with Baseball Sask. He helped Saskatchewan win gold at the 2016 Baseball Canada Cup in Fort McMurray, Alta., and at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.
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| Garrett Hawkins had a good season with the Padres rookie team. |
Hawkins said the players became good friends and a
realization grew that they might be able to accomplish big goals together.
“We had a core group of guys that (Greg) Brons kind of
brought up together and kind of knew we had the potential to do something like
that,” said Hawkins. “That group had been together for maybe three years before
that, so when it came time to put it all together, I just kind of remember all
the guys that we had and just how good we were and how ready we were to kind of
be on that stage.
“It was exciting.”
Besides those gold medal wins on a national stage, Hawkins enjoyed
playing against and with a number of his provincial team teammates in the
provincial under-18 AAA league. He has lots of good memories throwing for the
Saskatoon Giants at Cairns Field and Leakos Field.
“I enjoyed it just because most of the time it is like
Saskatoon team versus a Saskatoon team, so you kind of want to beat the other
one,” said Hawkins. “I enjoyed my time playing here for sure.”
After his season wrapped up with the ACL Padres, Hawkins
elected to live in Saskatoon during the off-season in order to train at the
Gordie Howe Sports Complex. On top of doing his own training, Hawkins will help
out the crew at the Going Yard Training Centre coach young pitchers.
Jordan Draeger, who is one of Going Yard’s top instructors,
was one of Hawkins past coaches.
“It is pretty cool just seeing (the young pitchers), because
I was in those guys shoes kind of when I was in high school,” said Hawkins. “It
is kind of cool seeing those guys build up and be around them as much as I can
trying to help out, if they need it.
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| Garrett Hawkins aims to keep moving up the professional ranks. |
Hawkins, who will turn 22-years-old in February, said all
the coaches he had through the years have had a big impact in allowing him to
have the success he has had.
Going into his second season as a professional, Hawkins said
his main focus is improving his consistency.
“I kind of like where my pitches are at now,” said Hawkins. “I
think just continuing to learn about hitters and stuff like that and just trust
myself.
“I just have to continue to get better each day and try and
move up.”
