Biggar, Saskatchewan-born Garrett Hawkins is headed for the big leagues..The right-handed pitcher was selected by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round (280th overall) of the 2021 MLB draft earlier this week..The 6-foot-5, 230-lb. Saskatchewan native has been a workhorse for the UBC Thunderbirds, zipping 95-mph fastballs to the strike zone with regularity. Hawkins was the first National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics player drafted even though public health orders and COVID-19 border restrictions robbed Hawkins of more games than those in U.S. schools..Hawkins was elated to hear his name announced..“There was definitely a lot of excitement and joy, knowing that all of the hard work and dedication that I have put into this game has paid off. When I first saw that I was selected it felt very surreal and it still has not fully settled in that I will be a professional baseball player,” Hawkins said..This spring the third-year kinesiology student joined the Trenton Thunder of the new MLB Draft League which runs from late May to mid-August to showcase baseball’s best draft-eligible prospects. He went 1-0 with a 2.62 ERA in six starts, walking two and striking out 32 in 24 innings..In two seasons with the T-Birds,”G-Hawk” went 8-6 in 19 starts, with 115 strikeouts in 109 innings. Last year Hawkins went 3-3 for UBC, pitching 46 strikeouts and 6 walks as he earned a 3.66 ERA..“I honestly don’t think I’ve had anyone that has deserved it more,” said UBC head coach Chris Pritchett, who was drafted by Chicago Cubs in 1988. .“Garrett has a tremendous work ethic and has shown a steep improvement over a short time. Even though we haven’t had any games for some time he never got frustrated and with his determination, he continued to work not only on his strengths but more importantly, he attacked his weaknesses, focusing on his overall arsenal, his secondary pitches and it has paid off. We’re so proud of Garrett and what he’s accomplished.”.Hawkins is the 25th T-bird to be drafted to the majors since 1997. Five other T-birds Pritchett coached have also been drafted: Niall Windeler (Minnesota 2019), Mitch Robinson (New York Yankees, 2018), Curtis Taylor (Arizona, 2016), Alex Webb (Cincinnati, 2016), and Bruce Yari (Cincinnati, 2016)..“Garrett’s a great example of what is possible,” continued Pritchett. “A reminder for Canadian kids coming out of high school that you can stay here and put yourself in good positions to develop and make that jump to professional baseball while being a part of a great collegiate program and earning a great education.”.“I can’t thank my family enough for the sacrifices they have made to make a moment like this come true,” added Hawkins. “The T-Birds will forever be my second home. They believed in me and gave me every resource I needed in order to be successful on and off the field.”.“When you surround yourself with the right people and have a passion and drive to get better, great things can happen. Amazing things can happen when you put your mind towards a goal. I’m very grateful I chose UBC and I’m excited to see more guys like myself get this opportunity.”.Hawkins earned $75,000 by signing with the Padres. He is also an alumni of the Vauxhaul Jets, Team Saskatchewan, Swift Current ‘57s, Saskatoon Giants and the West Central Diamondbacks. .Saskatchewan has had two other major-leaguers. North Battleford’s Andrew Albers pitched 2013-2017 for the Twins, Blue Jays, and Mariners, while Melville’s Terry Puhl played Outfield from 1977-1991 for the Astros, Mets, and Royals..Hawkins‘ hometown of 2,161 people is famous for its “New York is big, but this is Biggar” sign. In 1992, local grain and cattle farmer Milo Hanson shot the all-time greatest whitetail deer, judged at 213 5/8-points..Harding is a Western Standard correspondent based in Saskatchewan
Biggar, Saskatchewan-born Garrett Hawkins is headed for the big leagues..The right-handed pitcher was selected by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round (280th overall) of the 2021 MLB draft earlier this week..The 6-foot-5, 230-lb. Saskatchewan native has been a workhorse for the UBC Thunderbirds, zipping 95-mph fastballs to the strike zone with regularity. Hawkins was the first National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics player drafted even though public health orders and COVID-19 border restrictions robbed Hawkins of more games than those in U.S. schools..Hawkins was elated to hear his name announced..“There was definitely a lot of excitement and joy, knowing that all of the hard work and dedication that I have put into this game has paid off. When I first saw that I was selected it felt very surreal and it still has not fully settled in that I will be a professional baseball player,” Hawkins said..This spring the third-year kinesiology student joined the Trenton Thunder of the new MLB Draft League which runs from late May to mid-August to showcase baseball’s best draft-eligible prospects. He went 1-0 with a 2.62 ERA in six starts, walking two and striking out 32 in 24 innings..In two seasons with the T-Birds,”G-Hawk” went 8-6 in 19 starts, with 115 strikeouts in 109 innings. Last year Hawkins went 3-3 for UBC, pitching 46 strikeouts and 6 walks as he earned a 3.66 ERA..“I honestly don’t think I’ve had anyone that has deserved it more,” said UBC head coach Chris Pritchett, who was drafted by Chicago Cubs in 1988. .“Garrett has a tremendous work ethic and has shown a steep improvement over a short time. Even though we haven’t had any games for some time he never got frustrated and with his determination, he continued to work not only on his strengths but more importantly, he attacked his weaknesses, focusing on his overall arsenal, his secondary pitches and it has paid off. We’re so proud of Garrett and what he’s accomplished.”.Hawkins is the 25th T-bird to be drafted to the majors since 1997. Five other T-birds Pritchett coached have also been drafted: Niall Windeler (Minnesota 2019), Mitch Robinson (New York Yankees, 2018), Curtis Taylor (Arizona, 2016), Alex Webb (Cincinnati, 2016), and Bruce Yari (Cincinnati, 2016)..“Garrett’s a great example of what is possible,” continued Pritchett. “A reminder for Canadian kids coming out of high school that you can stay here and put yourself in good positions to develop and make that jump to professional baseball while being a part of a great collegiate program and earning a great education.”.“I can’t thank my family enough for the sacrifices they have made to make a moment like this come true,” added Hawkins. “The T-Birds will forever be my second home. They believed in me and gave me every resource I needed in order to be successful on and off the field.”.“When you surround yourself with the right people and have a passion and drive to get better, great things can happen. Amazing things can happen when you put your mind towards a goal. I’m very grateful I chose UBC and I’m excited to see more guys like myself get this opportunity.”.Hawkins earned $75,000 by signing with the Padres. He is also an alumni of the Vauxhaul Jets, Team Saskatchewan, Swift Current ‘57s, Saskatoon Giants and the West Central Diamondbacks. .Saskatchewan has had two other major-leaguers. North Battleford’s Andrew Albers pitched 2013-2017 for the Twins, Blue Jays, and Mariners, while Melville’s Terry Puhl played Outfield from 1977-1991 for the Astros, Mets, and Royals..Hawkins‘ hometown of 2,161 people is famous for its “New York is big, but this is Biggar” sign. In 1992, local grain and cattle farmer Milo Hanson shot the all-time greatest whitetail deer, judged at 213 5/8-points..Harding is a Western Standard correspondent based in Saskatchewan
