LaTroy Hawkins

LaTroy Hawkins
Colorado Rockies – No. 32
Pitcher
Born: (1972-12-21) December 21, 1972 Gary, Indiana
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 29, 1995 for the Minnesota Twins
Career statistics (through 2013 season)
Win–loss record	68–90
Earned run average	4.38
Strikeouts	917
Saves	101
Teams
Minnesota Twins (1995–2003) Chicago Cubs (2004–2005) San Francisco Giants (2005) Baltimore Orioles (2006) Colorado Rockies (2007) New York Yankees (2008) Houston Astros (2008–2009) Milwaukee Brewers (2010–2011) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2012) New York Mets (2013)
Career highlights and awards
Pitched an Immaculate Inning (September 11, 2004)

LaTroy Hawkins (born December 21, 1972) is an American professional baseball relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has played in Major League Baseball since 1995 as a member of the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and New York Mets.

Professional career

Minnesota Twins (1995-2003)

Hawkins was drafted straight out of high school by the Minnesota Twins in the 1991 amateur draft, and spent the next four years in the Twins' minor league system. His major league debut early in the 1995 season was a disastrous start against the Baltimore Orioles, where he gave up seven earned runs in only an inning and two thirds of work. During his brief stint in the Majors during 1995, Hawkins made 6 starts with a 2-3 record and a 8.67 ERA. Hawkins bounced between the big league club and Salt Lake of the PCL over the next few years, finally landing in the Twins' bullpen for good in 1998. He was the opposing starting pitcher during the perfect game by Yankees pitcher David Wells on May 17, 1998.

Sporting a mid-90s fastball, Hawkins was used by the Twins as their closer during the 2000 and 2001 seasons, but eventually lost the job to Eddie Guardado. In the set-up role, Hawkins drew the attention of the league when he posted a 2.13 ERA in 2002. He fared even better in 2003, when his ERA dropped to 1.86 and he struck out 75 batters in just 77 and 1/3 innings. Hawkins became a free agent after the 2003 season.

Chicago Cubs (2004-2005)

Hawkins drew interest from a number of teams before signing a three-year, $11 million deal with the Chicago Cubs after the 2003 season. Hawkins was signed by the Cubs to pitch the 8th inning to set up for Joe Borowski, but Borowski went down with an injury early in the season, and Hawkins took over closing duties. On September 11, Hawkins struck out the side on only nine pitches in a game against the Florida Marlins. Despite a better-than-average ERA of 2.63 on the year and 25 saves, Hawkins blew 9 saves on the year, including two during a late-September skid that cost the Cubs the wild card. These blown saves earned him the ire of Cubs fans, who made a habit of booing him loudly at Wrigley Field when he came on in relief. When Hawkins came back in 2005 as a member of the San Francisco Giants the Cub fans chanted "Hawkins Sucks! Hawkins Sucks!" which angered then manager Dusty Baker and first baseman Derrek Lee.

San Francisco Giants (2005)

On May 28, 2005 the Cubs traded Hawkins to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for pitchers Jerome Williams and David Aardsma. Upon arrival in San Francisco, Hawkins was initially converted back into a set-up role, with the team cautiously optimistic about a return to form. However, Hawkins only showed brief flashes of his previous ability en route to a league-average performance for the Giants.

Hawkins during his tenure with the Baltimore Orioles in 2006

Baltimore Orioles (2006)

Following the 2005 season, Hawkins was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for left-handed reliever Steve Kline. He spent one season with the Orioles and became a free agent after the season.

Colorado Rockies (2007)

On December 5, 2006, Hawkins signed a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Colorado Rockies. On July 8, 2007, Hawkins was the only Colorado player to help the groundskeepers and the entire Philadelphia ballclub with the tarp during a heavy storm in Denver.^[1] Despite pitching in the hitter-friendly Coors Field, he posted a 3.42 ERA in 62 appearances, including a scoreless 7th inning in the wild card playoff against San Diego. Hawkins gave up only one run and two hits in five innings of postseason work for the National League champions. Hawkins was part of the Rockies team that went to the World Series for the first time ever but ended up losing the series to the Boston Red Sox after only 4 games.

New York Yankees (2008)

Hawkins pitching for the New York Yankees in 2008

On December 9, 2007, Hawkins signed a one-year contract with the New York Yankees, reportedly worth $3.75 million. He became the first player since outfielder Paul O'Neill to wear the jersey number 21 for the Yankees. ^[2] However, after returning from a road trip on April 16, he changed his number to 22 in response to the fans' booing, yelling, and calling O'Neill's name when he took the field.^[3]

On May 21, 2008, during a game vs. the Baltimore Orioles, Hawkins threw a head-high pitch over left fielder Luke Scott. Hawkins was ejected and Scott accused him for throwing the ball over his head. Hawkins was suspended for 3 games and fined an undisclosed amount.^[4]

Hawkins was designated for assignment on July 26. During his time with the Yankees in 2008, Hawkins made 33 relief appearances going 1-1 with a 5.71 ERA.

Houston Astros (2008-2009)

On July 30, 2008 the Houston Astros acquired Hawkins from the Yankees for minor leaguer Matt Cusick.^[5] Hawkins was an integral part of the Astros' late-season run, pitching 21 innings out of the bullpen and allowing just one earned run over that span (good for a 0.43 ERA). Hawkins signed a 1-year deal with the Astros to return for the 2009 season.^[6]

Milwaukee Brewers (2010-2011)

On December 16, 2009, Hawkins signed a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers for 2 years and $7.5 million.^[7]

In 2011, he was 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA in 52 games.^[8] Through 2011, he was third of all active pitchers in career games pitched (823) behind Arthur Rhodes and Mariano Rivera.^[8]

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2012)

The Angels and LaTroy Hawkins agreed to terms on a one-year contract for the 2012 season. Hawkins earned three million dollars, going 2-3 with a 3.64 ERA.

New York Mets (2013)

LaTroy Hawkins signed a minor league deal with invitation to spring training with New York Mets on January 31, 2013. He ended up making the team, playing in 72 games and ending the season with a 3-2 record and 13 saves (his most since 2004 with the Cubs) with a 2.93 ERA.

Second stint with the Colorado Rockies

Hawkins signed a one year, $2.5 million contract to return to the Colorado Rockies on November 19, 2013, pending a physical.^[9] The contract became official on November 22, 2013.^[10]

See also

• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
• List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• LaTroy Hawkins on Twitter