Mike Hessman: The chase for history

Follow along as the veteran slugger breaks the Minor League record

May 12, 2014

Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1996, Mike Hessman has proven to be one of the greatest home run hitters in Minor League history. The 37-year-old veteran, who made his Major League debut in 2003, has appeared in more than 1,100 Minor League games, most of them with the Toledo Mud Hens, Detroit's Triple-A affiliate. Hessman, who hit a career-high 35 homers in 2012, has slugged at least 20 in 12 of his 19 seasons.

Minor league baseball career HR leaders

RANK	PLAYER	YEARS	HOME RUNS
1	Hector Espino	1960-84	484
2	Nelson Barrera	1977-2002	479
3	Andres Mora	1972-97	444
4	Alejandro Ortiz	1981-2004	434
5	Mike Hessman	1996-present	433
6	Buzz Arlett	1918-37	432
7	Nick Cullop	1920-44	420
8	Merv Connors	1934-53	400
9	Joe Hauser	1952-70	399
10	Bobby Prescott	1952-70	398
11	Jack Pierce	1970-87	395
12	Jack Graham	1936-54	384
13	Ted Gullic	1928-51	370
14	Gordon Nell	1930-49	365
15	Leo "Muscle" Shoals	1937-55	362

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International League batters with 150 or more HR

RANK	PLAYER	HOME RUNS
1	Mike Hessman	289
2	Ollie Carnegie	258
3	Rocky Nelson	203
4.	Luke Easter	195
5	Ed Stevens	188
6	Frank "Pancho" Herrera	187
t7	Howie Moss	172
t7	George Puccinelli	172
9	Chad Motolla	169
10	Kevin Barker	164
11	Russ Derry	162
12	Steve Demeter	159
13	Bill Kelly	152

Mike Hessman's Minor League career, 1996-2014

Year	Team	League	Level	Aff	G	AB	R	HR	RBI	BA	OBP
1996	Braves	GCL	Rk	ATL	53	190	13	1	15	.216	.277
1997	Macon	SAL	A	ATL	122	459	69	21	74	.235	.305
1998	Danville	CAR	A+	ATL	118	445	47	20	63	.200	.259
1999	Myrtle Beach	CAR	A+	ATL	103	365	62	23	54	.247	.347
2000	Greenville	SOU	AA	ATL	127	437	52	19	50	.183	.258
2001	Greenville	SOU	AA	ATL	129	478	66	26	80	.230	.298
2002	Richmond	IL	AAA	ATL	134	484	67	26	77	.262	.321
2003	Danville, Richmond	IL, SOU	AAA, Rk	ATL	101	374	48	16	54	.241	.292
2004	Richmond	IL	AAA	ATL	78	265	48	19	54	.287	.365
2005	Toledo	IL	AAA	DET	134	473	69	28	74	.214	.313
2006	Toledo	IL	AAA	DET	101	345	45	24	49	.165	.269
2007	Toledo	IL	AAA	DET	117	422	71	31	101	.254	.356
2008	Toledo	IL	AAA	DET	108	399	83	34	72	.271	.374
2009	Toledo	IL	AAA	DET	131	466	58	23	77	.217	.324
2010	Buffalo	IL	AAA	NYM	64	248	43	18	58	.274	.351
2012	Oklahoma City	PCL	AAA	HOU	123	441	73	35	78	.231	.301
2013	Louisville	IL	AAA	CIN	121	420	60	25	56	.240	.328
2014	Toledo	IL	AAA	DET	116	322	62	28	53	.248	.330