Kevin Hooper
#1 Kevin Hooper, Manager
Kevin Hooper, born December 7th, 1976 in Lawrence, KS, is a former Major Leaguer who enjoyed a 10-year playing career in professional baseball. Hooper finished his career in 2008, having won three championships, spending parts of two seasons in the Major Leagues, and totaling 1,116 base hits. Hooper was named the second manager in Wingnuts’ history on November 5th, 2008.
In his first season as a professional manager, Hooper guided the Wingnuts to a league-best 58-38 record, and a near wire-to-wire victory in the North Division’s first half. The Wingnuts clinched the division title on June 28th amidst what was eventually a franchise-best nine-game winning streak, and ended the half nine or more games in front of the four remaining teams in the division. The Wingnuts came within one game of claiming the second half title, winning 21 of their final 33 games. Seven of Hooper’s players were named to the American Association All-Star Game, while five made the league’s Postseason All-Star Team. At the end of the season, Hooper’s peers voted him the American Association’s Manager of the Year.
Hooper’s Wingnuts finished 50-46 overall in 2010, including a 30-18 record in the second half that saw the club miss both the division title and wild card by just one game. It was the second-best ‘half’ record in league history for a team that did not make the playoffs. The team ranked fourth in the league with a collective .295 batting average, and led the American Association in ERA for a second straight year at 4.05. Four more of Hooper’s players made the mid-season All-Star Game, while Hooper himself was selected as a coach for the event.
Prior to turning pro, Hooper was a four-year star at Wichita State University, helping the Shockers reach the College World Series in 1996. Hooper finished his career at WSU with a .358 batting average, and today, still ranks in the top 10 in Shocker history in runs (5th, 287), hits (7th, 315), doubles (7th, 58), and triples (9th, 17).
When Hooper’s college career ended in 1999, he was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 8th round of the 1999 draft. Hooper shot through the minor leagues, winning a championship with the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League (A) in 2001 and eventually reaching Triple-A with the Calgary Cannons in 2002. Midway through his first season in Triple-A, Hooper amassed a 31-game hitting streak with Calgary, batting 48-127 (.378) during the stretch. Hooper played six seasons at the Triple-A level, winning back-to-back International League championships with the Toledo Mud Hens in 2005 and 2006. Hooper finally reached the Major Leagues in 2005, when he was called up by the Detroit Tigers, and collected his first Major League hit on July 21st of that year when he singled off of Minnesota Twins’ lefthander Terry Mulholland. Hooper returned to Toledo in 2006, and earned another call to the big leagues later that season. Hooper played one more season with the Mud Hens, hitting .301 in 2007.
Hooper returned to his home state in 2008 to play for the Wingnuts. On May 28th versus Sioux Falls, Hooper picked up his 1,000th career hit with an infield single. Hooper went on to win the American Association batting title with a .373 average, 40 points better than anyone else. Hooper also stole 33 consecutive bases without a caught stealing, and was never thrown out by an opposing catcher in 35 steal attempts. He led all American Association shortstops with a .973 fielding percentage, and anchored an infield defense that helped turn a league-best 109 double plays and committed the fewest errors (92). Hooper was the starting shortstop for the North Division in the All-Star Game in St. Paul and collected two hits. He was also named to the American Association’s Postseason All-Star Team at shortstop.
Hooper now resides in Valley Center, KS with his wife Lindsey and their two daughters Lucy (6) and Laney (3).
Kevin Hooper's Professional Baseball Experience
PLAYING CAREER
1999 – Utica, New York-Penn League (A-)
2000 – Kane County, Midwest League (A)
2001 – Kane County, Midwest League (A)
2001 – Portland, Eastern League (AA)
2002 – Calgary, Pacific Coast League (AAA)
2003 – Albuquerque, Pacific Coast League (AAA)
2004 – Albuquerque, Pacific Coast League (AAA)
2004 – Omaha, Pacific Coast League (AAA)
2004 – Columbus, International League (AAA)
2005 – Toledo, International League (AAA)
2005 – Detroit, American League (MLB)
2006 – Toledo, International League (AAA)
2006 – Detroit, American League (MLB)
2007 – Toledo, International League (AAA)
2008 – Wichita, American Association (Ind.)
MANAGERIAL/COACHING CAREER
2009 – MANAGER, Wichita Wingnuts, American Association
2010 – MANAGER, Wichita Wingnuts, American Association
2011 – MANAGER, Wichita Wingnuts, American Association
