Justin Hawkins - INF - R.Junior - Clemson
A 6'2 205 lb. infielder from Prosperity, South Carolina, Hawkins transferred to Clemson from USC Sumter for the 2018 season. He has seen limited playing time this spring, appearing in 16 games and hitting .172/.351/.414 with 2 home runs and a 0.37 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 37 plate appearances.
It is difficult to properly evaluate Hawkins due to his limited playing time at Clemson. He did hit .322/.420/.512 with 7 home runs and a 0.63 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 255 plate appearances with USC Sumter before coming to Clemson, so you can take that for what it's worth. What I do know is that Hawkins has legitimate 65 grade raw power, which occasionally shows in games, as seen here and here. The main question at this point is if he will hit consistently enough to make use of that raw power. At this point it looks like he has a 40 grade hit tool, mostly due to the swing-and-miss nature of his game.
Defensively, Hawkins has seen time at third base, second base and first base with the Tigers. He has the athleticism and arm strength to handle third base, it's just a matter of getting consistent reps and work at the position.
Overall, Hawkins has the raw ability to play and succeed at the next level - it's just a matter of proving he can put up numbers against quality competition. A team that believes in his raw tools may take a flier on him this June, and could get a bargain if he is able to hone in on his approach at the plate and make more contact. If not, Hawkins has the opportunity to come back to Clemson and fill the power void that will be left in the Tigers lineup once Seth Beer and Chris Williams leave via the draft this June.
