Brad Hawpe

Brad Hawpe
Texas Rangers
Outfielder / First Baseman
Born: June 22, 1979 (1979-06-22) Fort Worth, Texas
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 1, 2004 for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics (through 2011 Season)
Batting average	.276
Home Runs	124
Runs batted in	490
Teams
Colorado Rockies (2004 – 2010) Tampa Bay Rays (2010) San Diego Padres (2011) Texas Rangers (2012 - present)
Career highlights and awards
2000 College World Series Champion 2007 National League Champion 2009 MLB All-Star

Hawpe with the Colorado Rockies in 2008.

Bradley Bonte Hawpe (born June 22, 1979 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Texas Rangers organization.

High school and college

Hawpe went to Boswell High School in Fort Worth, Texas, where he played first base and pitched under head coach David Hatcher and assistant and pitching coach Kenneth Harmon. He also won a Texas 4A State Championship.

Hawpe attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was a member of the LSU Tigers baseball team that won the 2000 College World Series.

Professional career

Hawpe was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 47th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft; however, he did not sign. Hawpe re-entered the MLB draft in 2000, where he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 11th round; he subsequently signed with the team in June of that year.

In the minor leagues, Hawpe was named to All-Star teams in 2000 while playing in the Northwest League and in 2003 while playing in the Texas League. He was the 2002 Carolina League Most Valuable Player.

Hawpe played first base in the Rockies' minor league system, but moved to right field upon his promotion to the major leagues, as the Rockies had Todd Helton at first base. Hawpe made his major league debut on May 1, 2004. He played in 42 games during the 2004 season.

After getting a chance to become a regular in 2005, playing 101 games, Hawpe had a .262 batting average with 9 home runs and 47 RBIs. In 2006, Hawpe hit .293 with 22 home runs and 84 RBIs. He also led all MLB right fielders in assists (16) and all National League right fielders in fielding percentage (.987). In 2007, he hit .291 with 29 home runs and 116 RBIs. Defensively, though, he had the lowest range factor (1.83) of all NL right fielders.

He missed time in 2008 with a hamstring injury, but still managed to hit .283 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs. Defensively, however, Hawpe had the lowest fielding percentage (.956) and range factor (1.50), and most errors (9), of all major league right fielders.

Hawpe was named to the 2009 MLB All-Star Game. However, he had the lowest range factor of all starting major league right fielders (1.64). But was ranked by Runs200 to have one of the best right field arms in Major League Baseball.

The Rockies placed Hawpe on waivers on August 16, 2010. He was given his release on August 18, though he was on waivers until August 26.

On August 27, Hawpe signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, reporting to the Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs.

Following the 2010 season, Hawpe signed with the San Diego Padres. With the Padres, he will return to first base. On June 26, Hawpe had season ending Tommy John surgery.

Hawpe signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on January 20, 2012. He also received an invitation to spring training.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)