CBN POW, Week XVIII - Garrett Hawkins

Former Vauxhall Jet and UBC Thunderbird Garrett Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.) earned POW honors.

August 12, 2022

By George Farelli

Canadian Baseball Network

Look at a head shot of Garrett Hawkins and he resembles a banker or an accountant, but not baker or a candlestick maker.

Put him in a uniform and put him on the mound? He looks like a 6-foot-5 bespectacled dominating right-hander.

Hawkins (Biggar, Sask.) had a week to remember ... as he ...

_ Was named by MiLB.com site as the Low A pitcher of the month for July in the California League with Lake Elsinore Storm.

_ Earned a 1-1 record in four starts, pitching much better than his won-loss record would indicate. In 19 innings he gave up only 11 hits and two earned runs, while striking out 22 opposition hitters.

For the month he had an ERA of 0.95 ERA.

_ Worked 5 1/3 innings allowing two unearned runs on five hits, while striking out eight in a 6-3 win over the Visailia Rawhide before 2,102 fans at Valley Strong Ballpark. In 17 games Hawkins now has a 5-5 record and a 3.94 ERA, including a California League leading 108 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings.

_ And two days later the former Vauxhall Jet and University of British Columbia Thunderbird was promoted by the San Diego Padres to the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

For a hectic week and a bit like that, Hawkins is the Canadian Baseball Network minor league Player of the Week ... the best of the 145 Canadians playing in affiliated, independent and in foreign lands. Hawkins was signed by Padres scout Chris Kemlo (Clarington, Ont.).

It was Hawkins second such CBN weekly award.

Best Offensive Weeks

Players Class Teams AB R H HR RBI AVG

Denzel Clarke A Lansing 20 7 8 3 6 .400

David Calabrese A Inland Empire 22 3 8 - 3 .364

J.D. Osborne AA Pensacola 11 4 4 2 5 .364

Edouard Julien AA Wichita 26 2 9 1 2 .346

Trei Cruz A West Michigan 24 4 8 2 8 .333

Jordan Nwogu A South Bend 12 2 4 - 5 .333

Tristan Peters AA Richmond 13 3 4 - - .308

Canice Ejoh IND Trois-Rivieres 12 - 5 - 2 .417

Connor Panas IND Trois Rivieres 22 4 7 1 6 .318

Jake Sanford IND Ottawa 19 2 6 - 1 .316

(Minimum 10 ABs)

Best Pitching

GM W SV ER ERA H IP K WHIP

Adam Mckillican RHP - High A Spokane Indians

3 - - - 0.00 5 4.1 7 1.460

Adam McKillican has been an extremely important member of the bullpen crew for Spokane Indians this season but, because his pitching resume does not include high numbers in the wins and saves categories, his overall performance could easily be underestimated. This past week the 24-year-old native of Comox, BC continued his trend of excellent outings with three more solid relief appearances, all against league rivals Eugene Emeralds but in all three was not involved in the final decision. The first was on Aug. 2 in an 11-3 loss to Eugene, he pitched one scoreless inning allowing two base hits while striking out three. He followed that up on Aug. 4 in an 8-2 loss pitching 1 1/3 scoreless, surrendering two base hits while striking out two. His last outing of the week was Aug. 6 in a 6-2 Spokane win when he threw two scoreless, giving up one hit while striking out two.

These outcomes improved his pitching record with Spokane, in 23 Northwest League relief appearances, to 1-0 with a miniscule 0.85 ERA. It should be noted that for the year, McKillican has pitched 31 2/3 innings and has given up only three earned runs. For Northwest League pitchers with more than 30 innings pitched, his 0.85 ERA ranks as the league’s second best.

Player of the Week

Week I - INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) Marlins

Week II _ OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) A’s

Week III _ OF Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) Brewers

Week IV _ RHP Landon Leach (Pickering, Ont,) Braves

Week V _ RHP Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, BC), Braves

Week VI _ OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) Cubs

Week VII _ C Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Guardians

Weej VIII _ RHP Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) Phillies.

Week IX _ OF Tanner Kirwer (Spruce Grove, Alta.) Mariners

Week X _ 3B Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) Blue Jays

Week XI _ RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) Mariners