This week we are catching up with former Waterloo Bucks infielder, Phillip Hawke. The Texas Rangers drafted the Pensacola, Florida native in the 29th round of the 2005 amateur entry draft. Since being drafted, Hawke started working his way up the Rangers farm system.
Hawke played four years at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He had a career batting of .319 with 30 home runs, 170 RBI, 42 doubles, and 133 runs scored.
After being drafted 879th overall in ‘05, Hawke played first base for the Ranger’s Rookie League team, the Arizona Rangers. Hawke batted a .386, hit four homers, 17 RBI and had three stolen bases. He played in 19 games before being called up to the Ranger’s Single-A team, the Spokane Indians. He finished the season batting .250, hitting six homers and 14 RBI.
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In 2006, Hawke moved up to the Rangers advanced “A” team, the Bakersfield Blaze. He played 36 games with the Blaze and posted .220, with two homers and 15 RBI. In 2007, Phil found his way into the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league. The two seasons Hawke was with the Thunderbolts, he put up some impressive numbers and accolades. With Hawke in the middle of the lineup, the Thunderbolts won two consecutive Frontier League championships. In his first year with the Bolts he batted a .290, hit 10 homers, 78 RBI and had two stolen bases. Hawke came back just as strong for his second season with the Bolts. In 2008, Hawke was named the league’s MVP after hitting .309 with 22 homers and 79 RBI. After two successful careers with the Thunderbolts, Hawke was invited to the Florida Marlins’ spring training. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for Hawke.
In 2009, Hawke was acquired by the Lincoln Saltdogs and did not disappoint, winning the Saltdog’s Player of the Year award. Hawke batted a .311; hit 12 homers and 61 RBI.
The Louisiana native played for the Bucks in 2004 and was named the Northwoods League Most Valuable Player. Hawke led the league in home runs (11) and RBI (41) while playing in every one of the Bucks games that season. Hawke also batted .301 with a .443 on-base percentage and a slugging percentage of .510.