If fans flock to Lawrence-Dumont Stadium to see the Wichita Wingnuts play baseball this summer, club officials will look back to Tuesday as the day they hit their first home run.
The city's new unaffiliated professional baseball team signed former Wichita State All-American Kevin Hooper, hoping to cash in on the rare harmonic convergence between Shocker baseball, an ex-major leaguer and Wichita's pro team.
Hooper wasn't just any Shocker when he played middle infield from 1996-99. He was as beloved as any player for his diminutive stature, hustle and heart.
"Without a doubt, without a doubt," general manager Josh Robertson said of Hooper being the ideal first-year face of the club.
"For trying to build this team in the direction we want to go in, Kevin is the best guy we could have. This is such a perfect fit."
Same for Hooper, 31, who said he is ready to settle down with his family and play baseball in his adopted hometown.
"It's going to be crazy to be back in the city where I love all these fans," Hooper said.
Hooper is ready to be Mr. Wingnut. Twice during a Tuesday news conference, he acknowledged he's been the fan favorite wherever he's played.
He'll likely be the same here.
"If I am, I am, and that's great and I'll run with it," Hooper said. "I hope people come out, whether I have anything to do with it."
Hooper has played 10 professional seasons, the last seven in Triple-A with four organizations, mostly with the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers. He had two short stints with the Tigers in 2005 and 2006, playing 14 games.
He broke his hand being hit by a pitch last July, ending his season. He signed with the Houston Astros, but seeing that he wouldn't be able to compete for a major-league job, asked for his release and -- after turning down an offer to manage a Tigers short-season rookie club -- agreed to join the Wingnuts.
Hooper still wants to manage someday, he said, but "there's something about being able to sleep in your own bed," he said.
Hooper's contract is worth around $20,000 for the four-month season, Robertson said. American Association clubs have a $100,000 salary cap for a 22-player roster, though the cap counts only a third of the salary of the highest-paid player and two-thirds of the No. 2 salary.
AA teams can carry four veterans -- more than five years of professional ball -- and four rookies, which are players with less than 70 professional at-bats or 35 innings pitched. A league-minimum salary is $3,200.
Wichita has also signed Derek Schermerhorn, whose Shocker career ended last season.
The Wingnuts will hold their spring training in Wichita beginning April 25, with the season opener at home May 7.
