Paul Hoover (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Paul Chester Hoover is an American
professional baseball
catcher
in the Boston Red Sox
organization. He is officially listed as standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, and weighing 220 pounds.
in the 64th round of the Major League Baseball
amateur draft however he did not sign. Hoover was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
in the 23rd round (714th overall) of the 1997 amateur draft
, with whom he signed on June 6, 1997.
On September 29, , Hoover broke up a potential no-hitter
in the eighth inning with an infield
single
to spoil a bid by John Maine
of the New York Mets
. The Mets are one of the few teams in baseball not to have a no-hitter in their history.
On January 7, , Hoover signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
with the Philadelphia Phillies.
On October 4, 2009, Hoover hit a walk-off RBI single on the final day of the regular season against the Florida Marlins to give the Phillies a 7-6 victory.
He was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on October 28, 2010.
In February 2011, Hoover signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.
Hoover currently holds the MLB record for most seasons by a nonpitcher with 25 or fewer plate appearances with 6.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
organization. He is officially listed as standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, and weighing 220 pounds.
Professional career
In 1994 Hoover was drafted by the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in the 64th round of the Major League Baseball
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...
amateur draft however he did not sign. Hoover was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
in the 23rd round (714th overall) of the 1997 amateur draft
1997 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1997 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, 1997...
, with whom he signed on June 6, 1997.
On September 29, , Hoover broke up a potential no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in the eighth inning with an infield
Infield
Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
to spoil a bid by John Maine
John Maine
John Kevin Maine is an American professional baseball pitcher. He has played for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life and college:Maine was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia...
of the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. The Mets are one of the few teams in baseball not to have a no-hitter in their history.
On January 7, , Hoover signed a minor league contract with an invitation 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...
with the Philadelphia Phillies.
On October 4, 2009, Hoover hit a walk-off RBI single on the final day of the regular season against the Florida Marlins to give the Phillies a 7-6 victory.
He was outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on October 28, 2010.
In February 2011, Hoover signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.
Hoover currently holds the MLB record for most seasons by a nonpitcher with 25 or fewer plate appearances with 6.