Current Contract
Signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on March 4, 2008.

**40-Man Roster**

Became a Cardinal
Selected in the 28th round of the June, 2001 First-Year Player Draft. Signed to a 2002 contract on May 30, 2002. Received a $1,475,000 signing bonus.

2008 Season
Coming off a bad 2007 season, things didn't get much better in 2008 for Hawksworth. Blake finished the season with a 5-7 record, appearing in 18 games, including making 16 starts for the Triple-A Redbirds. His ERA went up to 6.09 in 08 from 5.28 in 07 and his WHIP ballooned to 1.680, up from 1.473 in 07. Hawksworth had to deal with a sprained MCL in June and never did really get on track or pitch to his potential in 2008.

2007 Season
The former Top Prospect suffered the worst season of his career, finishing with a 4-13 record with a bloated 5.28 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, at Triple-A Memphis. He did pitch a career-high 129.7 innings, but he gave up 150 hits and an alarming 24 home runs. Hawksworth had given up only 12 home runs in 259.8 innings pitched before last season.

Career Notes
Hawksworth went a combined 11-4 with a 2.92 ERA between Palm Beach and Springfield in 2006. He made 27 starts, allowing 147 hits, striking out 121 and walking 50 in 163.1 innings. He was promoted to Springfield from Palm Beach on June 23. Following the season, he was named Pitcher of the Year by both the Birdhouse and the Cardinals.

Hawksworth was shut down in July, 2003 to have a bone spur removed in his ankle. He appeared in only two games for high Class A Palm Beach in 2004 before undergoing surgery on July 3 in Los Angeles to repair a partially torn labrum and remove loose cartilage in an operation performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum. He would miss the remainder of the season.

Still recovering from the surgery, Hawksworth missed the first three months of the 2005 season. The Cardinals activated him on July 1, and sent him to short-season Class A New Jersey on a 30-day rehab. He was shut down after his last of seven appearances, on August 24, to allow him to rest his shoulder. His first six appearances were starts. Overall, he posted a 7.98 ERA in 14.2 innings.

Player Awards
Birdhouse Top 40 Prospect 2007: #2
Birdhouse Top 40 Prospect 2006: #28
Cardinals 2006 Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Birdhouse 2006 Minor League Pitcher of the Year

Photo: MLB Photos