Hawkins spent most of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the San Diego Padres, and also played for the New York Yankees and briefly for the Oakland Athletics.

[2] Hawkins was the Yankees' most consistent starter in 1989, compiling a 15–15 record, a 4.80 ERA and an American League-leading 111 earned runs surrendered in 2081⁄3 innings pitched.

On May 8, with just one win and an ERA of 8.56, Hawkins was offered his outright release, which he accepted, although an injury that night to pitcher Mike Witt changed his mind.

Hawkins allowed no hits while pitching a complete game but lost a 4–0 decision to the Chicago White Sox in the Yankees' final appearance at Comiskey Park on July 1, 1990.

After Hawkins walked Ozzie Guillén and Lance Johnson to load the bases, the White Sox scored three unearned runs when a wind-aided ball hit by Robin Ventura glanced off left fielder Jim Leyritz's glove for a two-base error.

The last run of the inning resulted from right fielder Jesse Barfield misplaying a ball hit by Iván Calderón by losing it in the sun and dropping it for another two-base error.

The Yankees released Hawkins on May 9, two days after he lasted only 21⁄3 innings and surrendered four earned runs and five hits (including two homeruns) to the California Angels on May 7 in Anaheim.

In what would be his final major league appearance on August 4 against the Twins in Oakland Hawkins faced only one batter, striking out Scott Leius swinging.