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<\/a><\/p>\nCredit: Kyle Cooper | Colorado Rockies<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat fascinates me is how nutrients can affect the body. So, there\u2019s some specialty blood work that the guys are able to do, and that I did a lot when I was in the NFL,\u201d said Hawkins, who was the team dietitian for the Washington Commanders before coming to the Rockies. \u201cThat can show exactly what\u2019s going on from every amino acid, every fatty acid in your body. \u2026 All of that just fascinates me \u2014 the nitty-gritty of it. How one small change to your diet can completely change how your body functions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nutrition has always been Hawkins\u2019 passion, but her path to the Rockies is as unique as the trail she is blazing for women in the profession.<\/p>\n
It all started when Hawkins was in high school in Mississippi. One day, she called her shot.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the age of 16, I told everybody in my class that I was going to be head of sports nutrition for the Dallas Cowboys,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cThey laughed at me. \u2026 I\u2019m very headstrong. If I\u2019m going to do something, I\u2019m going to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
From then on, Hawkins decided to seize every opportunity she could until she landed in the NFL, where she did indeed land. Just trade the Cowboys for the Commanders.<\/p>\n
In between, she did her undergraduate at Mississippi State, specifically so she could work in SEC athletics. She helped with baseball, football, men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball and track and field. She continued to work with a variety of athletes in internships at Louisiana State University, the University of North Carolina and Southeastern Louisiana before getting her first full-time gig at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.<\/p>\n
Earning the credentials and experience to master her craft, Hawkins started to make name for herself in the performance nutrition world. So when the University of Memphis asked if she would build their football nutrition program, she answered the call.<\/p>\n
\u201cI built that program from the ground up for two and a half years,\u201d said Hawkins, who also earned a master\u2019s degree in exercise nutrition while she was working at Memphis.<\/p>\n
After success with the Tigers, the dream set out by her 16-year-old self came true \u2014 if not in location, in title as Hawkins became one of the youngest dietitians in the NFL when she took a job with Washington. She not only achieved her dream, but she also did so with some world-class athletes like linebacker Bobby Wagner, tight end Zach Ertz, and quarterback Jayden Daniels.<\/p>\n
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 11: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders is chased by Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) during an NFL football game, at Lambeau Field on September 11, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cI enjoyed it. Washington called it a recalibration. So I came in with the new regime with the new coaching staff, new front office, new owner, all of those things,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cI did what I could do there, and I got to a point where I wanted something a little bit different. I got the NFL experience, and it was great, but I wanted something more. And if I kept going down that path at 28 years old of just football, that was going to be my life, and I felt like I was meant for more.\u201d<\/p>\n Hawkins always loved baseball and knew taking her talents to MLB could bring something the sport sorely needed.<\/p>\n Enter Keith Dugger, the head athletic trainer and director of medical operations for the Colorado Rockies. When Hawkins talked with Dugger about coming to Colorado, Hawkins felt like she had found her next step.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hit it off, and they were also we were in the process of recalibrating, if you will,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cSo, we talked about working on building out a program here. I was really passionate about coming out here specifically because of the altitude.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the items she was most excited to add to the menu in Colorado to help with the elevation is beets.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a big believer in beets, in beet powder, beet juice, beets. It\u2019s great whether you get it in a supplement or you get it in a juice,\u201c Hawkins said. \u201dIt\u2019s a dietary nitrate, so it helps the blood flow, and so the more blood flow you get, the more oxygen you can uptake, so you\u2019re gonna feel a little bit better at altitude.\u201c<\/p>\n One thing that has surprised Hawkins is how the altitude has affected her own body. Born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, altitude presented a new world for Hawkins. Now, she\u2019s learning she also has to practice what she preaches to combat the elevation changes.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve learned that I struggle to go back to altitude, probably more than they do. \u2026 So I have a habit, and I think all dietitians have this to an extent of like, \u2018Okay, I\u2019m gonna educate, educate, educate on this,\u2019 and I\u2019m so focused on making sure that the guys are in the right spot that I forget that I also need to do that as well,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I was going to feel much because I\u2019m not an athlete, but it doesn\u2019t matter. It doesn\u2019t matter who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n Going through the changes herself, Hawkins is also using her own body as a laboratory to find out what helps her feel better. Understanding what players are going through, and being able to connect with them and build trusting relationships, is the strength she prides herself in even more than her vast nutrition knowledge. She laughingly admits she talks a lot and could talk to a brick wall, so she can work well with outgoing personalities like Troy Johnston or more reserved players like Ezequiel Tovar.<\/p>\n Credit: Kyle Cooper | Colorado Rockies<\/p>\n She\u2019s also in a continuous education loop to bring in new information, learn each player\u2019s needs, find innovative ways to deliver that information to the players, stay aware of trendy nutrition fads on TikTok, be prepared to fend off misinformation and to do it all over the grind of a 162-game season.<\/p>\n Hawkins also said she works hand-in-hand with the training staff as well, especially when guys are injured and then rehabbing. When a player might be amping up their physical activity, Hawkins will make sure they up their caloric intake to help their bodies adjust to those changes. With an office that is one door down from the Rockies clubhouse, the location encourages easy access and ongoing communication.<\/p>\n For Hawkins, one of her favorite parts of the gig is planning what the fuel will be pre- and post-game for the players. In football, that only happened once a week. In baseball, it\u2019s nearly every day, and Hawkins loves it. Even then, it changes, say for a starting pitcher or one that could be called upon to pitch in long relief like Tanner Gordon. She\u2019s worked with him when he was starting and developing plans for how everything changes out of the bullpen.<\/p>\n \u201cMy favorite part of my job is the small wins. We look at what we\u2019re doing, and we kind of critique that,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cTo watch him be as successful as he is, and for that plan that we put in place to be properly executed and working, those are my favorite.\u201c<\/p>\n It can be harder on the road when certain foods, especially when she is trying to cater to the cultural diversity of the Rockies locker room, are hard to find. But she\u2019s making it work.<\/p>\n When asked what she would want fans to know about her job, Hawkins gave a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her work.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the biggest thing is nutrition is not glamorous. When people think, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m working for this professional sports team,\u2019 I\u2019m in the back making shakes. I\u2019m literally asking guys about their bowel movements,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cYou have to love what you do to do this, and if you don\u2019t, you\u2019re not going to be happy. I want the fans to know is that it\u2019s not glamorous, but whatever you\u2019re passionate about, go for it because I wouldn\u2019t be here if I didn\u2019t have the passion for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Triple-A: Oklahoma City Comets 9, Albuquerque Isotopes 3<\/a><\/p>\n A four-run third inning was enough to sink the Isotopes on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. Braxton Fulford hit a solo homer, walked and scored another run, Nic Kent doubled, singled and drove in a run, Conner Capel went 2-for-4 and scored a run and Drew Avans added a sac grounder. Keegan Thompson took the loss, giving up five runs on four hits, three of which were homers, with two walks and one strikeout in 2.2 innings.<\/p>\n Double-A: Erie SeaWolves 3, Hartford Yard Goats 1<\/a><\/p>\n The Seawolves scored two runs in the second, neither of which was earned due to a fielding error, and that turned out to be enough to beat the Yard Goats. Hartford actually out-hit Erie 9-6, but went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 14 runners on base. The Yard Goats scored their lone run when Jared Thomas hit an RBI single to score Tevin Tucker in the seventh inning, but it was too little, too late. Jack O\u2019Dowd had a big night at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a double, while Thomas added three hits. Stu Flesland III was saddled with the loss, despite giving up no earned runs (two total) on two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings.<\/p>\n High-A: Everett AquaSox 7, Spokane Indians 1<\/a><\/p>\n Spokane was held to one run on six hits, while the AquaSox posted 10 hits, six of which came with runners in scoring position to put up a win on Thursday night. Tanner Thach singled on a line drive to score Ethan Hedges in the sixth inning for the Indians lone run. Thach and Hedges each recorded two hits on the night. Everett Catlett dropped to 5-8 on the season after surrendering five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks in six innings.<\/p>\n Low-A: San Jose Giants 5, Fresno Grizzlies 0<\/a><\/p>\n The Grizzlies actually saw their first two batters reach base when Ashly Andujar led off the game with a single and Landyn Vidourek walked, but a double play ended the threat and Fresno only saw five more base runners for the entire game in Thursday\u2019s loss. The closest the Grizzlies got to scoring was when Sebastian Blanco led off the eighth with a double and advanced to third on a one-out wild pitch, but the Giants were able to escape unscathed. Juan Martinez added two singles for Fresno. The Grizzlies were held to five hits and committed two errors, leading to one unearned San Jose run.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Who will the Rockies call up next?<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Closes in 2 days \u2022 46 total votesView results<\/p>\n Charlie CondonSterlin ThompsonRyan RitterAdael AmadorTJ ShookMason AdamsRec 3CommentsThin Stroke Comment Icon BubbleReplyRead 15 replies<\/p>\n My personal Field of Dreams | Purple Row<\/a><\/p>\n While the Rockies were off on Thursday, the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins took the state in MLB\u2019s annual Field of Dreams game. The pregame festivities including honoring a handful of Hall of Famers, including former Rockie Larry Walker. Check it out on Netflix if you didn\u2019t see it. In this article, Purple Row\u2019s Skyler Timmins reflects on the power of baseball and its connection to memories.<\/p>\n Francis Rivera is pitching his way through the Rockies minor league system | Purple Row<\/a><\/p>\n Renee Dechert continues Purple Row\u2019s s<\/a>eries exploring how Spanish-speaking players learn<\/a> about English and American culture while working their way through the Colorado Rockies system. In the latest addition, she interviewed Francis Rivera. The 25-year-old ight-handed pitcher for the High-A Spokane Indians signed with the Rockies in 2018 out of the Dominican Republic. Hailing from a baseball family, Rivera has a passion for the game that\u2019s carried him through injuries as he\u2019s climbing through the Rockies farm system.<\/p>\n Renck: Time for Rockies to call up Charlie Condon to big leagues \u2014 in September or sooner | Denver Post ($)<\/a><\/p>\n Troy Renck explores how the possible lockout next season and timing could complicate callups and long-term rookie statuses for prospects, but especially for slugging outfielder Charlie Condon. Renck argues the Rockies might as well go for it and call him up now.<\/p>\n Fewer adsCreate community posts<\/a>Comment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n