Team

Next Game

July 31, 6:45 pm
at Pensacola Pelicans
Pelican Park

August 1, 6:05 pm
at Pensacola Pelicans
Pelican Park

August 2, 7:05 pm
at Shreveport-Bossier Captains
Fairgrounds Field

August 3, 7:05 pm
at Shreveport-Bossier Captains
Fairgrounds Field

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. He 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. Hooper’s peers voted him the American Association’s Manager of the Year at the end of the season.

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 AAA with the Calgary Cannons in 2002. Midway through his first season in AAA, Hooper amassed a 31-game hitting streak with Calgary, batting 48-127 (.378) during the stretch. Hooper played six seasons in AAA, winning back-to-back International League championships with the Toledo Mudhens in 2005 and 2006. Hooper finally made it to the Majors in 2005, when he was called up by the Detroit Tigers, and collected his first Major League hit on July 21st 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 Mudhens, hitting .301 in 2007.

Hooper returned to his home state in 2008 to play for the Wingnuts. On May 28th vs. Sioux Falls, Hooper picked up his 1,000th career hit with an infield single. He 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 (4) and Laney (2).