Michael John "J. R." Hopf (born November 4, 1982 in Tampa, Florida

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

) is a minor league baseball

Minor league baseball

Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...

 catcher, currently with the Huntsville Stars

Huntsville Stars

The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...

, Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

.

Minor league career

Hopf began the 2006 season at the Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

' rookie league affiliate, the Helena Brewers

Helena Brewers

The Helena Brewers are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Helena, Montana...

, before being promoted to the Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees

Brevard County Manatees

The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...

. In 2007, Hopf started the season in Brevard County before being promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds

Nashville Sounds

The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...

 on June 1. He was placed on the disabled list on June 26 and was sent back down to the Manatees shortly thereafter. He returned to Nashville on August 31, where he spent the remainder of the season, following the promotion of Vinny Rottino

Vinny Rottino

Vincent Antonio Rottino is an Italian–American professional baseball catcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. He generally plays at catcher, first base, and outfield.He graduated from St...

, one of Nashville's two primary catchers, to the Brewers. Hopf started the 2008 campaign with the Double-A Huntsville Stars

Huntsville Stars

The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...

, where he played one game before being promoted back to Nashville. After six games with the Sounds, Hopf was sent down to Helena in order to make room on the roster for Laynce Nix

Laynce Nix

Laynce Michael Nix is a Major League Baseball outfielder. Nix plays all three outfield positions, but plays most of his games at left field. His younger brother is Jayson Nix, a utility player for the Toronto Blue Jays....

, who was returning from the temporary inactive list.