Padres pitching prospect from Sask. returns to spring training after surgery

San Diego Padres pitching prospect Garrett Hawkins can’t wait to return to the mound at spring training in Peoria, Arizona.

The six-foot-five, 230-pound pitching prospect from Biggar, Sask. missed almost the entire 2024 season after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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“I figured some time off would maybe help, but I got an MRI and the elbow didn’t look so good, so we decided to go surgery,” the 25-year-old Hawkins explained.

Opting for the surgery meant Hawkins had a long recovery ahead for him.

“Last year was really tough for me, just going through injury and rehabbing. Rehab went really well though,” Hawkins said.

“I was able to get into some innings near September, October, so spring training won’t be the first game since (my) injury, so that’s a good peace of mind.”

While going through his recovery process, Hawkins was sent to the Padres’ spring training facility in Arizona, where he could work with the team’s doctors.

Hawkins wasn’t the only player getting treatment at the facility. and said having a group of other players there was a big help in getting him through his lengthy recovery.

“We’re around each other every day. Everyone’s in the same boat,” Hawkins said. “Those guys helped a lot, just kind of keeping morale up. Everyone’s there to get to that end goal of throwing again and playing again.”

Hawkins said that he’s excited to get on the mound and start throwing the baseball again.

There’s a high probability that Hawkins will pitch in High-Single A this season for the Fort Wayne TinCaps in Indiana, but first he will be loading his arm up and getting ready for spring training with the Padres. At spring training, he’ll be surrounded by everyone in the organization, from Single-A players like himself to some of the best baseball talent in the world.

“Both major league players and minor league players are all in the same complex. It gets pretty busy with fans and stuff walking around the complex,” he explained.

“There’s maybe 180 of us, so it’s a pretty busy time. You’re there to get your work in, get built up with our innings, and then head out to our affiliates.”

At spring training, Hawkins said there is the odd time where he gets to throw to some of the big-league stars like Manny Machado and Fernando Tatís Jr.

He said there’s also the possibility of him getting into a spring training game.

“I got into a spring training game in 2023 – had to come in for Blake Snell, so that was pretty cool. When I was rehabbing, coming back and throwing to hitters, some of the good guys were down in Arizona, so I got to throw to them a few times,” Hawkins said.

Looking ahead to the 2025 baseball season, it’s very unlikely Hawkins will suit up for the Padres. For now, he said he’s just focusing on his game.

“It’s just taking it one step at a time right now,” Hawkins stated. “Just stay healthy, throw lots innings and just kind of let it happen as it will.”