Hessman sets minor league HR record with No. 433

Although it may not be on front page of newspapers across the nation, Mike Hessman is finally the “Hank Aaron of Minor League Baseball”.

Four other minor-leaguers from the unaffiliated Mexican League have more home runs than Hessman.

The home run broke a 432-homer tie Hessman had shared with Buzz Arlett, a star from the 1920s and “30s who played primarily for the Phillies” farm teams.

The 37-year-old Hessman has played 109 games in the major leagues for the Mets, Braves and Tigers.

A few days ago, during a Triple-A game at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio, Hessman sent a towering shot over the left-field fence to give the hometown Mud Hens a 4-1 lead over the Rochester Red Wings. 127 in that short stint with the Mets, but he’s the new career home run leader in the minor leagues after hitting No. 433 – a grand slam – on Monday night in the Toledo Mudhens’ 10-8 loss. The new minor league home run king recorded his 16th bomb of the season to take the crown despite now holding a. 218 batting average in 2015.

Only time will tell if he has enough “fuel in the tank” to capture the mark. “I’ve had a lot of support from the organization and my teammates, and being able to do it at home, I was glad I was able to do it for the fans”. So, yes, Mr. Hessman has been playing this game for a while…

Hessman, a first and third baseman for the Detroit Tigers affiliate, was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 15th round of the 1996 amateur draft.

As for any comparisons to a different Bull Durham, Hessman said he’ll stray from the Crash Davis course.

“My first main league hit was a house run”. The right-handed hitting infielder/DH last played in the majors in 2010. “I mean, he never really got the chance to play day in and day out and show what he could really do”.

“I didn’t set out to break the record this year, but I said if I could stay healthy, there would be an opportunity to get to that number”, Hessman said to mlb.com.