Brad Hawpe

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #18 prospect in 2005
  Todd Helton's presence hasn't deterred the Rockies from drafting more college first basemen such as Hawpe. He tied an NCAA Division I record when he hit 36 doubles in 2000 and helped Louisiana State win the national championship, and earned high Class A Carolina League MVP honors in 2002. After that, Colorado asked him to become a full-time outfielder. He took the change seriously enough to decide on his own to spend that offseason in Venezuela to focus on his defense. He's still a work in progress, but he has plenty of arm strength and moves well for his size. Hawpe's bat is going to decide how much he plays in the majors anyway. He flashes legitimate middle-of-the-order power and can drive the ball out of any part of the ballpark. Though he's lefthanded, he reminds veteran scouts of a young Gorman Thomas. The key for Hawpe is trusting his strength and hand-eye coordination. He gets in a hurry trying to speed up his bat, and winds up late on fastballs because he ties his arms up. He didn't make enough contact to make good use of his power with the Rockies. He always has struggled against lefthanders, so he looks like more of a platoon player. Colorado expects him to serve in that role in 2005, sharing right field with Dustan Mohr.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #11 prospect in 2004
  The question about Hawpe isn't whether he can hit, because it's obvious that he can. Whether he can play the outfield is the key for him, because he's not going to move Todd Helton off first base in Colorado. Hawpe tied the NCAA Division I record with 36 doubles in 2000, when he won a College World Series with Louisiana State, and he was the high Class A Carolina League MVP in 2002. Hawpe's bat is going to carry him. He generates legitimate power with bat speed, and he understands the value of using all fields. He does need to be more selective, particularly against lefthanders, if he expects to play every day. A below-average runner with good instincts, he can take the extra base but isn't a threat to steal. Hawpe is better suited for right field than left, where he still has some problems with the angle of the ball off the bat. Having played first base, he's more accustomed to seeing balls hit to the right side. At best, he'll be an adequate defender wherever he plays. Hawpe missed six weeks late in the 2003 season with a separated shoulder but made a solid return in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .359 after a 4-for-34 (.118) start. He'll move to Triple-A this year with expectation of being ready for the big leagues within a year.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #10 prospect in 2003
  Hawpe won a College World Series title with Louisiana State in 2000, when he tied the NCAA Division I record with 36 doubles. He had a breakthrough season in 2002, leading the high Class A Carolina League in batting, walks, on-base percentage, slugging and total bases (264). He was promoted to Double-A for the Southern League playoffs. Hawpe can hit for both average and power. He uses all fields and has shown he can handle all types of pitching at the lower levels. He recognizes the value of a walk, which will help him adjust against quality pitchers in the upper minors. Hawpe was old for the CL last year and had his eyes opened by the pitching in Venezuela, where he batted .238 before straining a ribcage muscle. He's average at best as a first baseman and is a below-average runner, which will make playing left field more of a challenge. Double-A will be a proving ground for Hawpe in 2003. With Todd Helton locking up first base in Colorado, Hawpe may get more exposure in the outfield after seeing time there in Venezuela.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #27 prospect in 2002
  Hawpe led the system with 22 home runs in his first full pro season. A second-team All- America first baseman who played on Louisiana State's College World Series championship team in 2000, he initially moved to the outfield as pro. When Rene Reyes moved into the Asheville outfield at midseason last year, Hawpe returned to first base and was more comfortable. The Rockies wanted to see more power out of him, and he became enamored with Asheville's short right-field porch and got pull-conscious. When it became apparent he wasn't going to get back to his old style of using the entire field, roving hitting instructor Alan Cockrell and Asheville coach Billy White decided to adapt to Hawpe's new approach. They got him to move up on the plate and open his stance. To everyone's surprise, instead of accentuating his tendency to pull, the adjustment wound up getting Hawpe to use all fields. He's very patient at the plate but will have to reduce his strikeouts. He'll go to high Class A in 2002.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #18 prospect in 2001
  Hawpe batted .362 with an NCAA Division I record-tying 36 doubles for Louisiana State's College World Series championship team this spring. He was a second-team All-America first baseman, relegating Garrett Atkins to the third team. Hawpe made such a good impression in his pro debut that Portland manager Billy White actually mentioned him in the same breath as Todd Helton among hitters White has seen come through the organization. Hawpe has a beautiful lefthanded swing with line-drive power, and he concentrates on hitting the ball to left field. As he gets stronger and develops a better understanding of how pitchers work him, there's every reason to expect he'll lift the ball more and turn some of his doubles into homers. He also showed that he's capable of playing the outfield as a pro. Like Atkins, he'll probably bypass Asheville and head straight to Salem this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Carolina League #6 prospect in 2002
  Hawpe settled on a stance and a position this year. That helped him blossom into the CL player of the year as he challenged for the triple crown and led the league in batting, slugging (.587) and on-base percentage (.447). Salem manager Stu Cole raved about how Hawpe used more of the field than he had in the past. But another manager wasn't as sold on Hawpe's bat. "I think he can be easily pitched to," the manager said. "He'll have to learn how to turn on the ball down and in. That pitch gives him trouble." After playing outfield in low Class A, Hawpe settled at first base with the Avalanche, showing good hands and decent mobility. He'll play both corner outfield spots in Venezuela this winter, and has enough speed and arm strength to move back there.
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  Ranked Northwest League #9 prospect in 2000
  Hawpe's supporters pointed to his pretty lefthanded swing and versatility. Hawpe split his season between first base and left field, where Portland's Civic Stadium features a short porch. Hawpe, who played right field as a sophomore at Louisiana State, made the transition between the two positions smoothly. He also showed the line-drive, gap power that helped him tie the NCAA Division I record for doubles (36) in the spring. He hit 19 more with Portland to rank second in the Northwest League. "He's going to be a lot better in the outfield with more experience," White said. "He's got a strong arm, so you can't rule out right field." Said Stanley: "He showed me an ability to be a good situational hitter. He put the bat on the ball with runners on base. He was an impressive lefthanded bat."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Hawpe's supporters pointed to his pretty lefthanded swing and versatility. Hawpe split his season between first base and left field, where Portland's Civic Stadium features a short porch. Hawpe, who played right field as a sophomore at Louisiana State, made the transition between the two positions smoothly. He also showed the line-drive, gap power that helped him tie the NCAA Division I record for doubles (36) in the spring. He hit 19 more with Portland to rank second in the Northwest League. "He's going to be a lot better in the outfield with more experience," White said. "He's got a strong arm, so you can't rule out right field." Said Stanley: "He showed me an ability to be a good situational hitter. He put the bat on the ball with runners on base. He was an impressive lefthanded bat."