The San Diego Padres are getting a look at Garrett Hawkins in spring camp, and they are taking notice of the young pitcher. 

Some say that the San Diego Padre farm system is bare.

Compared to seasons past, the team does have fewer known commodities. However, in true A.J. Preller fashion, the Padres are producing prospects seemingly out of nowhere.

One of the players flying under the radar is right-handed Canadian pitcher Garrett Hawkins.

The 26-year-old was drafted by the Padres in the 9th-round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He was plucked out of the University of British Columbia where she started his whole career. Hawkins started his professional career with the Padres as a starting pitcher but was injured and missed the entire 2024 season. Tommy John surgery put Hawkins on the shelf and when he returned in 2025, San Diego elected to put him in the bullpen.

He excelled in his new role.

In 2025, Hawkins put up the longest scoreless streak in the minors in the last decade. The 38-inning streak spanned 29 appearances and four months of the season for two different minor league teams. In that time, he allowed only 19 baserunners while racking up 51 strikeouts. He was flat-out dominant. In his first time as a reliever, he found his calling.

Executing that streak in so many appearances it what is so impressive. “There were definitely outings where it was like, ‘I don’t have it today, and we’re just gonna try and scrap through, and we’re gonna see what happens,’” Hawkins said. “That happened a few times, and I kind of just got lucky that no one scored. But I just got into a rhythm, and the biggest thing was just not thinking about it.”  Hawkins said to Jesse Borek of MLB.com

Showing this kind of resiliency along with execution proves that Garrett Hawkins is a future major league pitcher.

For the Padres, the team is well-stocked in the bullpen area. Though Hawkins is already on the 40-man roster, he possesses minor league options. San Diego may elect more seasoning for the right-handed pitcher. At this point, the team is full of veteran arms who will make up the bullpen.

Hawkins averaged 94-97 mph on his fastball in 2025. He gets a ridiculous 18+ inches of iVB (basically, perceived rise out of his throwing hand). His fastball appears to rise to the hitter. He throws at an 82-degree arm angle and a 6.9 release height. His rising fastball coming out of his delivery is impossible to track for the hitter. A comparison would be Trey Yesavage of the Blue Jays.

Hawkins also throws a plus changeup in the 85-88 mph range. It is a harder change but gets great deception as he throws it from the same arm angle. It creates an average armside run of 12.2 inches.

Last season, he was dominant and is showing no signs of slowing down.

6-ft-5 RHP Garrett Hawkins in 2025 over 45 appearances: A 1.50 ERA in 60 IP, with 80 strikeouts to 23 walks, while holding hitters to a .138 BAA.

The 25-year-old didn’t surrender an earned run for 25 games from May-July.

Plus fastball that sits 92-95 with a 34% Chase% in ’25. pic.twitter.com/hZ2X06BeqB

— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) January 20, 2026

The Padres will be cautious with the pitcher. However, he has high-leverage reliever written all over him. With a clean healthy 2026 season, Hawkins could very well be entrenched in the bullpen for San Diego for the next several seasons. Take a look at the fastball.

#Padres RHP Garrett Hawkins’ stuff today.

Chat, I think a 75-grade fastball might be pretty good… pic.twitter.com/wAnrJvuvwW

— Diego Garcia (@StatNerd_Base) February 20, 2026

Garrett Hawkins possesses an unhittable heater, but his change is also playing up.

Take a look at numbers and the fact he is executed his changeup from almost straight over the top with his arm angle.

WE HAVE ANOTHER DEMON. WE REPEAT WE HAVE ANOTHER DEMON.

Garrett Hawkins dropped some diabolical changeups from nearly a 7 foot release height today. pic.twitter.com/seQwxjct9D

— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) February 20, 2026

The changeup progression is scary. The right-handed pitcher is looking like a great find for the Padres.

The future is bright for the relief pitcher.

The Padres have extraordinary depth in the bullpen right now, so there is no need to rush Hawkins. But if they elect to bring Garrett Hawkins up to the majors, there is no doubt he will keep his rhythm and pitch effectively. Even against major league talent.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.