Blake Hawksworth joins the Anteater baseball staff in August of 2022 as the Director of Operations.
A former big leaguer, MLB agent, and pitching coach on a College World Series qualifier Hawksworth joins after a stint with JSerra High School in 2021-22 as the varsity pitchng coach for the team that won the CIF Division I championship and CIF Regional Final.
Blake Hawksworth spent a season as the pitching coach at Grand Canyon University for the 2020 season. In a 2020 season condensed to 18 games, Hawksworth oversaw a pitching staff that posted a 3.44 ERA, the best by a Lopes team since 1982 (3.07). GCU ranked 22nd nationally with a 2.91 strikeout-to-walk ratio led by Pierson Ohl's No. 3 mark nationally of 0.32.
Hawksworth's extensive baseball background includes 11 professional seasons with three as a big leaguer, multiple stints as an MLB Certified Player Agent for the renowned Scott Boras Corporation and one season as pitching coach at Cal State Fullerton.
In a previous stint as a college pitching coach in 2017, Hawksworth helped lead Cal State Fullerton to a 39-24 overall record and postseason success that included regional and super regional wins, netting the Titans a trip to Omaha. The Fullerton pitching staff posted a 3.64 team ERA that ranked 29th in the nation. Hawksworth's staff was noted for its collective control, ranking among the nation's best in strikeout-to-walk ratio (17th, 2.94), WHIP (19th, 1.25) and walks per nine innings (sixth, 2.55).
Among Fullerton's six shutouts on the season were wins over Stanford, UNLV, Arizona, New Mexico and Long Beach State. Cal State Fullerton's postseason journey started by winning the Stanford Regional including a pair of victories over the host Cardinal. The Titans advanced to the Long Beach Super Regional where they defeated the archrival Dirtbags in a three-game series. In the six combined games through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, the Fullerton pitching staff allowed just nine total runs.
A right-handed pitcher, Hawksworth was drafted in the 28th round of the 2001 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He spent his first seven professional seasons rising through the organization as a minor leaguer, earning the billing as the organization's No. 1 prospect in 2004.
In his eighth season in the organization, Hawksworth broke through for a June 6, 2009 MLB Debut. He made 30 appearances spanning 40 innings in his rookie season, going 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA. He made a one-inning relief appearance in the 2009 NLDS. Hawksworth spent the 2010 season with the Cardinals, going 4-8 with a 4.98 ERA over 45 games and 90 1/3 innings.
After an offseason trade following the 2010 season, Hawksworth spent his final pro season as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made a career-high 49 appearances including 12 starts, posting a 2-5 record with a 4.08 ERA. After dealing with injuries, Hawksworth officially retired from baseball in 2014.
In between his draft selection in 2001 and pro debut in 2002, Hawksworth played one season at Bellevue Community College as a draft-and-follow selection. He left no doubt to his professional abilities by going 8-0 with a 0.18 ERA and earning recognition as both his team's and league's Most Valuable Player.
Also passionate for the sport of basketball, Hawksworth served as an assistant coach at his high school for three years.
A native of Vancouver, B.C., Hawksworth attended Eastlake High School in Sammamish, Wash.
