Kevin Hooper hopes he’ll be playing professional baseball in the Motor City this summer.

Hooper, a Lawrence High graduate who spent the last six years in the minor leagues, has signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Tigers.

“I may be fighting for a utility spot,” Hooper said Wednesday night from his home in Wichita. “I’m hoping there’s a chance.”

Hooper, 28, spent the 2004 season with three organizations. He began with the Florida Marlins’ Triple-A team at Albuquerque, N.M. The Marlins had tapped him with their eighth-round pick in the 1999 draft after he spent four standout seasons as a shortstop-second baseman at Wichita State University.

In late May, however, the Marlins designated Hooper for assignment, and he was picked up by the New York Yankees, who assigned him to their AAA farm at Columbus, Ohio.

In August, Hooper, disappointed with his lack of playing time in Columbus, asked for and was granted a release by the Yankees. A few days later, Hooper signed with the Kansas City Royals’ AAA farm at Omaha, Neb.

Under baseball rules, all players who have spent six years in the minors automatically become free agents, so Hooper has been mulling offers all winter. He said he heard from the Philadelphia Phillies, the Tigers and the Royals.

“The Royals kind of took a waiting attitude,” Hooper said. “The Tigers made a proposal, and I didn’t want to pass it up.”

Although he won’t be on the Tigers’ 40-man roster, the 28-year-old Hooper will report to Detroit’s major-league camp next month in Lakeland, Fla.

One reason for Hooper’s interest in the Tigers was general manager Dave Dombrowski, who was GM of the Marlins when that National League club drafted Hooper in ’99.

“They have a lot of other former Marlins’ people, too,” Hooper said. “They all know me pretty well. Hopefully, it will be a good fit.”

Hooper will be in Lawrence early next month to conduct an infield camp with new LHS baseball coach Brad Stoll, a lifetime friend.

“I’ve been hoping to come back to Lawrence and do something like this,” Hooper said. “I’m glad it worked out.”