from baseballamerica.com...

 

but no one is in the top 20 overall 2B prospects

 

also, no SS or 3B in top 20 or honorable mention

from baseballamerica.com...

 

but no one is in the top 20 overall 2B prospects

 

also, no SS or 3B in top 20 or honorable mention

I thought Hooper was too old to be a prospect? Anyone know his age?

Its 27 I think...Ramp did they do any pitcher ratings?

Surprising to see Hooper on there....he's been getting bashed quite a bit here, lately.

Ramp did they do any pitcher ratings?

not yet

Hooper sucked this season in the Minors but remeber how good he did in ST. I dont even know why Torborg cut him...

 

When i went to one of the ST he ran up the line on a ground ball so fast it wasnt even funny. I have never seen any one run as fast. He really impressed me when i saw him in the Ft. Lauderdale stadium of the Orioles.

I dont even know why Torborg cut him...

Torborg didnt cut him.

how much does baseballamerica cost for a subscription or w.e.

Allow me to share my memories of spring training 2003. It was so long ago I can't be sure every fact is correct but here goes. I spent five days there. These are only my observations, anyone may disagree:

 

Kevin Hooper was about to play himself into the starting SS position with the Florida Marlins. He was hitting .400, he was as fast if not faster than anyone on the team and he was playing lights out at SS.

 

His fiance/girlfriend and his parents were literally on their way to Jupiter to be with him when he was unceremoniously sent packing. And for the record I believe that happened to him in Jupiter was the genesis of his awful first half with the 'Topes.

 

I have always believed that there one reason and one reason only for what happened to the guy. Alex Gonzalez.

 

I believe Jeff Torborg wanted to give Alex one more chance to make it and Hooper was outplaying Alex in every way. We all know how Alex got the nickname "Sea Bass". And I believe they jettisoned Hooper soley so Alex would not feel threatened. The Marlins had a sizable investment in AGon and Torborg was his biggest supporter. So to give Alex a clear path, with no distractions, Hooper was sent packing.

 

I was able to find one article on Hooper from spring training I am posting here below.

----------------------

 

Hooper's hustle turning heads

By Patrick Mulrenin / MLB.com

 

 

 

Kevin Hooper has made himself noticed in the Marlins clubhouse this spring. (Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)

 

 

 

JUPITER, Fla. -- Sparkplug.

That's the one word that many Marlins use to describe Kevin Hooper, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound infielder from Lawrence, Kan. He may be one of the smaller players in the clubhouse, but he has made quite an impression in his first big league Spring Training.

 

Hooper is batting a team-high .478 (11-for-23) with two doubles and two RBIs. Marlins manager Jeff Torborg is giving him every opportunity to impress, playing Hooper in 14 of the team's 16 games.

 

"That happens a lot, especially when you don't have guys with big physical stature," Torborg said of the nature to overlook an "average-sized" player. "It's nice to see little guys, scooters that play the game hard."

 

Marlins closer Braden Looper was familiar with Hooper prior to his arrival to Roger Dean Stadium in February. Looper and Hooper played together at Wichita State in 1996. Looper was a junior closer about to be drafted by the Cardinals, while Hooper was a freshman second baseman.

 

"Even back then, he was a little sparkplug," Looper said. "He's kind of the same player that he is today, but he's obviously a lot bigger and stronger today. Fans loved him because he was a little gnat, and I don't mean that degradingly. He was always causing disruptions for the other team. He always made all of the plays at second base. He was great defensively and a really tough, tough out. He has one of the best eyes [in terms of seeing a particular pitch] I've ever seen."

 

In an age when athletes are built heavier, taller and stronger than the average person, Hooper knows that he can be overlooked. Even Looper admitted that he was skeptical upon first meeting him.

 

"I didn't think he could play," Looper said. "At the time, we had a senior at school. He kind of struggled a little bit and Hoop started playing. He started playing every day and since then he has never turned back. He's gotten better every year and he's a great player."

 

Hooper has drawn comparisons to Anaheim's David Eckstein, who entered the limelight during his team's run through the postseason and became a fan favorite.

 

Hooper, like Eckstein, bats in the leadoff or No. 2 position. And although he played exclusively at second base in college, Hooper has learned to play shortstop.

 

"Everybody asks me if I'm tired of hearing [about Eckstein]," Hooper said. "Heck no. The guy's playing every day in the big leagues at shortstop and is a World Series champion. What a better compliment for me. That's an honor for people to say that about me, definitely. I love watching him play. He goes about his business the right way. He plays hard all of the time. You've got to love that."

 

Hooper also takes pride in being referred to as a sparkplug.

 

"That's my role usually for whatever team I'm on," he said. "Just be the guy that's a gnat, a little gnat, try to foul off some pitches, see a lot of pitches, get on base for those big guys to drive me in. It was a lot of fun to see [Eckstein] in the playoffs. That didn't hurt me, seeing him and getting compared to him."

 

Eckstein advanced through the Red Sox organization, but could not crack the big leagues. When Boston put him on waivers, the Angels took a shot at him, figuring that the kid could play despite being 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds.

 

Hooper can empathize.

 

"It's always been an issue and I'm not going to tell you that I don't think it's an issue," Hooper said.

 

"Hopefully I've proven that it isn't an issue anymore," he continued. "You don't have to be big to play this game. That's the thing about this game. Size really doesn't matter and I'm not going to be a guy that goes out and hits 20 home runs a year. I'm going to be a guy who gets on base, steal some bases here and there and score a lot of runs."

 

Kerry Rosenboom, the strength trainer at Wichita State, helped Hooper through a weight-training program during the offseason. Looper noticed a difference as soon as he saw Hooper at the start of camp. Hooper said that he feels stronger than ever, which will help increase his endurance for a six-month regular season.

 

The chances of Hooper making Florida's Opening Day roster are slim. Torborg plans on carrying 11 pitchers, three catchers, four outfielders and seven infielders. Unless one of those middle infielders is injured during the final three weeks, Hooper will start his season at Triple-A Albuquerque.

 

Last year, Hooper recorded a 31-game hit streak at Triple-A, the second-longest in the minors and the longest in the Pacific Coast League since 1992.

 

Hooper has batted .282 over four minor league seasons since being drafted by the Marlins in the eighth round in 1999. In the last three seasons, he has scored 70 or more runs and recorded more than 110 hits. His teammates picked him to win the "Mr. Hustle" award last season.

 

"I have no control over [where I start the season] so there's no reason for me to get fired up about it," Hooper said. "I can only do what I do out there and hopefully they like what they see. It may not happen until the end of the year. Doesn't matter. I'll go to Triple-A and take the same approach."

 

A smile permeates Hooper's face, on and off the field. He is always upbeat and believes that he will get a shot in the big leagues if he continues to play hard.

 

"When you look at him he's kind of an underdog," Looper said. "He's undersized. People just have a tendency to pull for him. He's fun to watch."

and another quickie:

 

(from Flamarlins.com-MLB- Mar 15, 2003)

 

"...Bright future: Despite being optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, infielder Kevin Hooper remains high on the Marlins' prospect list.

 

Hooper has a future as a second baseman or a shortstop in the Major Leagues.

 

"If we had a major injury, he can play right now," Torborg said. "He brings energy. He knows how to play."

 

In 15 games, Hooper hit .440 and had an on-base percentage of .520. "