Paul Chester Hoover (born April 14, 1976 in Columbus, Ohio) is a former Major League Baseball catcher. Hoover played with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2001-2002), the Florida Marlins (2006-2008), and the Philadelphia Phillies (2009-2010). He is officially listed as standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, and weighing 220 pounds. Hoover is currently the manager of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Rays in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
Professional career
In 1994 Hoover was drafted by the Houston Astros 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, 2007, 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.
On January 7, 2009, 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.
Coaching
In 2012 the Tampa Bay Rays hired Paul Hoover as manager for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Rays.