Many had hoped that Lawrence native and former Detroit Tiger infielder Kevin Hooper would bring his team back to his hometown this spring to play a baseball game.

Hooper did not land the head-coaching job at Wichita State, his alma mater, but he is bringing his team to Lawrence for a baseball game.

In his sixth season as manager of the Wichita Wingnuts of the independent American Association, Hooper will be at Free State High on Sunday for a 2 p.m. exhibition game between the Wingnuts and Gary SouthShore RailCats. Hooper’s Wingnuts finished runner-up to the American Association champion RailCats last season.

Hooper, 37, appeared in 14 games for the Tigers (2005-2006) and is one of three Wingnuts former big-leaguers young baseball fans can hit up for an autograph and handshake Sunday.

Center fielder Brent Clevlen played in 55 games for the Tigers (2006-08) and four for the Atlanta Braves (2010). Right-hander Jon Link pitched in relief in nine games for the 2010 Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hooper’s team has won its division of the American Association in four of his five seasons, and he has done the majority of the recruitment of talent, working with general manager Josh Robertson to stay within the league’s salary-cap restrictions — good preparation, Hooper thought, for college recruiting. He didn’t think a lack of college coaching would keep him from being hired by Wichita State, but it did.

“I don’t think it was any secret I was the fan favorite and media favorite to get that job,” Hooper said by phone Wednesday. “I think they wanted a guy with college experience. As much as I disagree with that, it was their choice.”

Arkansas assistant coach Todd Butler landed the position and has a 25-23 record (9-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference) in his first season at WSU.

Hooper lives in Wichita with wife Lindsey and their daughters Lucy, 8, and Laney, 5. He said he has turned down numerous affiliated-minor-league opportunities and would like to become a college head coach. For now, Hooper said he enjoys the challenges of his current job, such as making a 22-man roster work. He fills it with 11 pitchers, a starting lineup, a backup catcher and a utility man.

Hooper has an irrepressible personality that enables him to become a big name in a town in a hurry. He was huge in Toledo, where fans of the Tigers’ Triple A team, the Mud Hens, loved his in-your-face style of play. He’ll love every minute of managing in his hometown Sunday.