Blake Hawksworth

Hawksworth started eight games for the Cardinals in 2010, but he was used mostly as a mediocre reliever. His strong 2009 was probably as attributable to his .225 BABIP as his weak 2010 was due to his .336 BABIP. The real Hawksworth is somewhere in the middle. The Dodgers traded Ryan Theriot for him, but they probably won't use him as anything more than a garbage reliever until he becomes less hittable.

Hawksworth was 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA and 1.100 WHIP in 30 appearances with the Cardinals in 2009. He was quietly one of the better relievers in the St. Louis bullpen, but with a .225 BABIP and a 20:15 K:BB ratio in 40 innings, expect his sophomore season to be a bit rockier. Hopefully he can get his control problems fixed, as a good walk rate has been one of his strengths throughout his minor league career.

Once upon a time, Hawksworth was a nice prospect. However, after seven years toiling in the minors, it doesn't look like the majors will come calling. His last two years with Triple-A Memphis: 9-20, 36 HR, 5.61 ERA, 1.56 WHIP. He's not even worth a reserve pick any more.

Hawksworth has been toiling away in the St. Louis farm system for six years, finally reaching Triple-A last year. Unfortunately, his skills declined considerably at the higher level, as he went 4-13 with a 5.28 ERA. He was very hittable and his control abandoned him at times. Hawksworth already lost most of 2004 and 2005 to injuries, so time is running out for him to have any kind of impact at the major league level. He should start 2008 back in Triple-A.

Hawksworth, a 28th-round pick in 2001, started 27 games in High-A and Double-A last year, compiling an 11-4 record and 2.92 ERA. His control wasn't great for Double-A Springfield, but a 66:31 K:BB in 79.2 IP isn't too shabby. He'll probably start the year back in Double-A, but it won’t take long for him to find himself working out of the St. Louis pen. It’s nice to see this former top prospect back on track after two injury-plagued seasons.

Ranked in 2004 by Baseball America as the Cardinals' top prospect, Hawksworth faces an unclear future. He missed half of 2004 and nearly all of 2005 while recovering from shoulder surgery. When he did return, the results weren't pretty. This is a make-or-break year for him.

Baseball American named Hawksworth the Cardinals' fifth-best prospect in 2003 based on his enduring fastball and toughness. An ankle injury limited him in 2003 and a shoulder problem wiped out all but two games of his 2004 season, leaving his prospect status a bit dusty. The former 28th-round draft pick needs a healthy season before solidifying himself as a future front-line starter for St. Louis.

Hawksworth jumped onto a lot of prospect lists following a good half-season in 2003. Surgery to remove bone spurs on his ankle was deemed successful, and he's expected to open 2004 healthy. Unlike most young pitchers, Hawksworth needs to add velocity to make his secondary pitches more effective. He's at least a year away, and most valuable as trade bait in deep leagues.