 He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the eighth round of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft.Hopper signed with the Kansas City Royals in 1998, spending seven seasons with the organization, all in the minor leagues.He finished his stint with the Royals organization in Double-A, playing two seasons for the Wichita Wranglers, where he slashed .290/.346/.327 and recorded 80 stolen bases.