Brett Pirtle [Mississippi State Youtube Image]
2020 would have been the 10th season of the Ohio Valley League and the ninth season for the Hoptown Hoppers. Both are expected to return strong in 2021 after COVID-19 caused the cancellation of the 2020 season.
YourSportsEdge.com has dug into the archives to present the Hoptown Hoppers All-Decade Team for 2012-19.
Infielder Brett Pirtle played on the first Hoppers team in 2012. He hit .330 which stood as a single-season Hopper record until 2015.
31 of his 38 hits that season were singles, and his four triples still stand as a single-season team record. He was also hit by a pitch 10 times which is second-most by a Hopper player.
After two seasons at Panola College, Texas and a summer with the Hoppers, Pirtle transferred to Mississippi State where he was a Second Team All SEC selection twice and played in the College World Series. He hit .310 as a junior with nine stolen bases and 33 RBIs. As a senior, he batted .363 with 13 extra base hits.
Pirtle was drafted in the 23rd round by the Detroit Tigers in the 2014 MLB Draft. He played three seasons in the Tigers’ system, playing in 186 games with a .283 batting average and .341 on base percentage.
After getting out of pro ball in 2017, Pirtle has served as a volunteer coach at Tyler Junior College.
