Kevin Hooper
Encyclopedia
Kevin James Hooper is a former Major League Baseball
infielder
who played for the Detroit Tigers
. He is currently the manager
of the Wichita Wingnuts
of the independent American Association.
and was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference
team in , and led Wichita State in batting average
at .402.
, by the Cleveland Indians
, but did not sign.
, this time in the 8th round, by the Florida Marlins
. He signed with the Marlins on June 3, 1999. In 1999, he played with the Low-A Utica Blue Sox
of the New York-Penn League. In , he moved up to Single-A playing for the Kane County Cougars
, for 2000 and only part of , after 17 games he was moved to Double-A Portland Sea Dogs
. In he made the move to Triple-A Calgary Cannons
. In he stayed in Triple-A, but this time with the Albuquerque Isotopes
, where he remained until he was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees
.
the Triple-A team for the Yankees, at the time. He played there until the Yankees released him on August 6, 2004.
signed him as a free agent
on August 13, 2004. He played for Triple-A Omaha Royals
for the remainder of the season. He was granted free agency on October 15, 2004.
signed him as a free agent in the offseason. He played for the Detroit Tigers and Toledo Mud Hens
after being signed. Including two Governor's Cup Championships with Toledo in 2005 and . During a home game of the 2005 Governor's Cup series against the Indianapolis Indians, Kevin Hooper played one inning in every position of the game, including a successful inning pitching. On September 2, 2006, his contract was purchased by the Tigers. On October 11, 2006, he was designated for assignment
and refused, becoming a free agent. On November 17, 2006, Hooper was re-signed by the Tigers and invited to spring training
in Lakeland, Florida
. He became a free agent after the season in which he spent the whole season in Triple-A
. He hit .373, winning the American Association batting title, and was successful in 34 of 35 stolen base
attempts. At the end of the season, he was named the Wingnuts MVP. On November 6, 2008, Hooper was named the manager of the Wingnuts.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
who played for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. He is currently the manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Wichita Wingnuts
Wichita Wingnuts
The Wichita Wingnuts are a professional baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas, in the United States. The Wingnuts are a member of the Central Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.An expansion franchise in the...
of the independent American Association.
College years
Hooper attended Wichita State UniversityWichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
and was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
team in , and led Wichita State in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
at .402.
Cleveland
He was originally drafted in the 49th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
, by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, but did not sign.
Florida Marlins
He was then drafted in 19991999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
, this time in the 8th round, by the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. He signed with the Marlins on June 3, 1999. In 1999, he played with the Low-A Utica Blue Sox
Utica Blue Sox
The Utica Blue Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Utica, New York. In their most recent incarnation, the Blue Sox played in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League from 1977-2001, with their home games at Donovan Stadium at Murnane Field...
of the New York-Penn League. In , he moved up to Single-A playing for the Kane County Cougars
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Geneva, Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago....
, for 2000 and only part of , after 17 games he was moved to Double-A Portland Sea Dogs
Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....
. In he made the move to Triple-A Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
. In he stayed in Triple-A, but this time with the Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
, where he remained until he was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
New York Yankees
The Yankees claimed him off waivers from Florida on May 26, , where he played for the Columbus ClippersColumbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
the Triple-A team for the Yankees, at the time. He played there until the Yankees released him on August 6, 2004.
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
signed him as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on August 13, 2004. He played for Triple-A Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
for the remainder of the season. He was granted free agency on October 15, 2004.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
signed him as a free agent in the offseason. He played for the Detroit Tigers and Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
after being signed. Including two Governor's Cup Championships with Toledo in 2005 and . During a home game of the 2005 Governor's Cup series against the Indianapolis Indians, Kevin Hooper played one inning in every position of the game, including a successful inning pitching. On September 2, 2006, his contract was purchased by the Tigers. On October 11, 2006, he was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
and refused, becoming a free agent. On November 17, 2006, Hooper was re-signed by the Tigers and invited to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. He became a free agent after the season in which he spent the whole season in Triple-A
Houston Astros
On November 28, 2007, Hooper signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Houston Astros.Wichita Wingnuts
Before the season started, Hooper signed with the Wichita Wingnuts, where he was the starting shortstopShortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. He hit .373, winning the American Association batting title, and was successful in 34 of 35 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
attempts. At the end of the season, he was named the Wingnuts MVP. On November 6, 2008, Hooper was named the manager of the Wingnuts.