Jon Hooker, Former Cleveland Indians Prospect, Aboard Ill-Fated ComAir/Delta Flight 5191

MLN Newswire - Former Northern League pitcher Jon Hooker was one of the passengers of the ill-fated ComAir/Delta Airlines Flight 5191 commuter jet that crashed at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky early Sunday.  All but one person aboard the airplane perished on takeoff.  Indications are that the airplane took off on the wrong runway, one too short to allow the small jet  to get airborne.

Compounding the tragedy, the twenty-eight year old, whose last active pro season was in 2005 with the Joliet Jackhammers, was on the flight to start his honeymoon.

Hooker had been married over the weekend to Scarlettt Parlsey Hooker in what has been described as a "fairy tale" wedding, with a horse-drawn carriage, before 300 of their friends and family.

Selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 40th round (1205th OA) of the 2000 MLB June Draft, the right-handed pitcher  chose to defer his professional career to attend the University of Kentucky.  Hooker had a mixed record in 2000 and 2001. 

He decided to go pro during the 2001 season, and signed with the Chicago White Sox, for whom he pitched briefly with the Bristol White Sox in the rookie Appalachian League, where his 2-2 record and 5.46 ERA over about 64 innings of work did not ignite his career.

At 24, Hooker found himself pitching for the independent Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks of the Northern League in 2003 when he was part of the  Northern League Championship team. 

He split time between the  Jackhammers and the Redhawks in 2004.  Hooker had has best record as a pitcher, amateur or pro, with the Redhawks when he went 1-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 20 innings of work, allowing 1 home run and striking out 18.

Hooker did not play in 2006.  He was remembered in news from Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks website.

“Jon was one of the good guys,” said RedHawks General Manager Josh Buchholz. “He was a valuable member of our organization. Not only was he a solid contributor on the field, he was a first class representative of our organization off the field. He will be missed by many people who remember him in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Our sincere condolences go out to the families of both Jon and his wife.”