Blake Hawksworth’s name is not one you should know. Yet. The 27-year-old right-handed pitcher is throwing from the number four spot in the St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation, and while his season isn’t going as wonderfully as he may have hoped, to be where he is now is a testament to his character. His career has been a roller coaster ride with glowing scouting reports and devastating injuries. As soon as he settles down and finds some direction, he may wind up as one of the best hurlers in baseball.

Hawksworth is struggling in 2010. He’s recently been moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation. He has a 4-6 record this season, but is 4-3 in his last eight appearances. His season ERA sits at 5.23, has a 1.81 WHIP thanks to an inflated walk count of 28, and has struck out 42 in 63 2/3 innings. These are not the numbers of an ace pitcher; far from it actually, but he’s developing nicely as a pitcher in the process.

The Cardinals have a very different starting rotation this season than they did last. Right now, only Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright are holdovers from 2009. Jaime Garcia and Jeff Suppan surround Hawksworth in the three-through-five spots on the Cardinals starting pitching depth chart; all three having very different paths to get where they are now. Garcia, a rookie, has been in the rotation all season; Hawksworth converting from the bullpen; and Suppan winding down a 16-year career.

With the departure of Joel Piniero in the offseason, the Cards have been hard-pressed to find a replacement in the rotation for him. Despite being in the big leagues, Hawksworth may be that replacement a couple of seasons from now. At this point, he’s acclimatizing himself to the majors and is learning from two of the best in the game. Hawksworth is one of the best young prospects the Cardinals have, and when Carpenter and Wainwright are done, Hawksworth will be ready to take the reigns in St. Louis.