Where are they now: Latroy Hawkins 1991 Gary West Side Cougar Grad

Latroy Hawkins, a 1991 Graduate of West Side High School will be playing the 2008 season with the New York Yankees, on 12/27/2007, he signed a one year $3.75 million contract to pitch for the Yankees in '08...Latroy, 35, played and pitched for the Colorado Rockies that made it to the World Series in 2007...he had a great season, going 2-5, with a 3.42 ERA...spent one month on the DL early in the season with right elbow inflammation, but bounced back to go 2-2 with a 2.63 era over his last 53 outing of the season, holding hitters to .233 batting average during that clip. Latroy made 5 post-season appearances during the Rockies World Series run, allowing just 2 hits and 1 earned run over 5 innings with 1 walk and 3 K's.

Latroy will most likely be setting up Mariano Riveria coming in to fill the holes in the Yank's Relief...so 6-8th innings is likely when you are going to see Latroy #32 enter the game.

Hawk is entering his 14th season in the Major Leagues and has been with 5 other teams, since being drafted in the Minnesota Twins in the 7th round in 1991. He has also pitched for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies.

Hawk is listed 9th in MLB all-time relief appearances with 532, going into the 2008 season, and tied for 4th among right-handers.

Latroy on becoming a Yankee..."My expectation is to come in and hopefully win a World Series," "I think that's everyone's goal at the Major League level. I know that coming to New York is definitely putting myself in a good position to do so."

The Yankees visit U.S. Cellular and the Chicago White Sox early in the season April for a 3 game set April 22-24, all 8pm games. Be sure to put those games to your schedule and root on your favorite Gary Native.

We will have more updates on Latroy throughout the season, so stay tuned and make you add this blog to your favorites or subscribe for automatic updates.

Latroy Hawkins, discusses peer pressure with an audience from the Gary, Indiana Boys and Girls Club of America.