Hessman climbs the 400HR plateau

By Paul Gotham

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The list of career minor leaguers with 400 home runs is a short one. It inched a little longer Tuesday afternoon.

Mike Hessman deposited a first-inning, first-pitch fastball from Scott Diamond into the visitors’ bullpen at Frontier Field. With the two-out shot  Hessman, a 19-year veteran, reached the 400 home run plateau.

“That’s what he does,” said Rochester manager Gene Glynn. “He’s done it for a long time.”

Hessman’s home run, a two-run shot, proved the difference as Toledo’s Mud Hens defeated the Rochester Red Wings, 3-0 in International League action.

“It’s too bad it happened right away, and it gave them a little cushion,” Glynn added. “I don’t know if Hessman has kept track of how many different pitchers he hit ’em off.”

With 255 home runs in his IL career, Hessman is three shy of the record. The 6’5 infielder has 11 round-trippers this season.

A 15th round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 1996 out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, Hessman hit his first home run for the Gulf Coast League Braves in 1996. He has had stints in the majors with Atlanta, Detroit and the New York Mets connecting on 14 big league home runs. 

He joins five others on the 400 list: Hector Espino (484), Andres Mora (444), Buzz Arlett (432), Nick Cullop (420) and  Merv Connors (400).