Ranking The Rockies: 26 LaTroy Hawkins

We at BSN Denver are running a series where we rank how valuable each of the Colorado Rockies’ 51 players was to the team in 2015. Value was calculated by statistics, viewing, and how memorable each player’s contributions were. The rankings will be from last to first, you may view the full rankings (here)

Player: LaTroy Hawkins

Stats: (with Colorado) 24 G, 22.1 IP, 2-1, 3.63 ERA, 1.164 WHIP, 3.63 FIP, 89 ERA+, 8.1 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, 3 Holds, 0.2 WAR

Big Moment: April 12, the Cubs are in Denver facing the Rockies in the season’s opening series at Coors Field. With a 5-3 lead. Walt Weiss turns the ball over to Hawk for his first home save of the year.

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LaTroy at the time had just struggled in his first two outings against the Brewers, walked the first batter he faced. He then allowed a single followed by a game-winning home run from former Rockie Dexter Fowler to give the Cubs a 6-5 lead and the win.

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LaTroy would only get one more career save opportunity which came on June 30th. He lost the closer’s job after this Sunday afternoon contest against the Cubs. After Adam Ottavino got hurt, the closer’s role became a revolving door for the Rockies always coming back to John Axford.

Season Recap: Hawkins last season was highlighted by his midseason trade to the Blue Jays with Troy Tulowitzki. The 42-year-old right-hander bid the big leagues adieu this year, marking the last season of his 21-year career. In his career, he played for 11 teams, he played the most in a Twins uniform, while he spent the second most time with the Rockies. He made 1,042 appearances which is 10th all time, 143 of those games came while playing for the Rockies. In 2015, Hawk entered the season as the Rockies closer and ended it allowing three runs without recording an out in game four of the ALCS for the Blue Jays. A rare injury sidelined him for almost six weeks but when he came back before the trade he had a stretch where he threw 16.2 innings while only allowing 2 earned runs. He was a solid option coming out of the bullpen for the Rockies in the months of June and July.

What’s Ahead: LaTroy Hawkins is now retired, congrats Hawk on a great career, you will be missed on and off the field!