Mike Hessman
Encyclopedia
Michael Steven Hessman (born March 5, 1978, in Fountain Valley, California
) is a third baseman
who plays for the Orix Buffaloes
in Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League
. He led all active minor league players in most home runs with 329 until his callup on July 26, 2010.
Hessman was originally drafted right out of Mater Dei High School
in the 15th round (452nd overall) by the Atlanta Braves
in the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Hessman spent eight years in the Braves organization before finally making his major league debut on August 22, . His first major league hit
was a pinch-hit
home run
on August 26, 2003, off New York Mets
pitcher
Mike Stanton.
He signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers on January 7, . He played for the Tigers' Triple-A team, the Toledo Mud Hens
for the whole season. He hit 28 home runs, one every 16.89 at bat
s, and helped the Mud Hens win the Governors' Cup
, the trophy awarded to the International League
champion.
In 2006, Hessman would again spend the whole season with the Mud Hens, hitting 24 home runs, one every 14.38 at-bats, but only batting .165 for the season, as the Mud Hens won the second of their back-to-back International League championships.
In , Hessman began the year for the Mud Hens again, and on June 1 hit his 68th home run as a Mud Hen, becoming Toledo's all time home run leader, passing Erve Beck. Hessman had his contract purchased by the Tigers on July 23, marking the first time he had been on a Major League roster since 2004. He had already hit 27 home runs for the Mud Hens, one every 13.19 at-bats. He had led the International League in home runs at the time of his call-up.
Hessman led the International League in both home runs (31) and RBIs (110), and on August 28, 2007, was named the 2007 International League's Most Valuable Player, the first Mud Hen to receive the award since 1996.
Hessman was a member of the Tigers organization again in 2008, and spent the beginning of the season in Toledo. On July 16, , Hessman was named to the United States national baseball team
for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Hessman still ended up hitting 34 home runs for the Hens despite missing a month for the Olympics. Hessman was called up by Detroit on September 2, and played in 12 games for the Tigers, hitting .296 with 5 home runs. On September 4, 2009, Hessman played all nine positions while with the Toledo Mud Hens. He started at catcher and ended as the pitcher, blowing a save and picking up a loss. In October 2009, Hessman became a free agent.
On December 8, 2009, Hessman signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets
.
On July 26, 2010, he was called up to replace Rod Barajas
, who strained his right oblique. He spent the remainder of the season with the Mets, but played in only 32 games.
On November 10, 2010, Hessman and Omir Santos
refused their minor league assignment and then became free agents. Hessman would later sign with the Orix Buffaloes
for the 2011 season.
Fountain Valley, California
Fountain Valley is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 55,313 at the 2010 census. A classic bedroom community, Fountain Valley is a middle-class residential area.- History :...
) is a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
who plays for the Orix Buffaloes
Orix Buffaloes
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka and Kobe, Japan. They play in the Pacific League. The team is owned by the Orix Group, a leading diversified financial services company based in Tokyo....
in Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
. He led all active minor league players in most home runs with 329 until his callup on July 26, 2010.
Hessman was originally drafted right out of Mater Dei High School
Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)
Mater Dei High School is a private, Catholic, co-educational secondary school in Santa Ana, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. With an enrollment of 2,100 students Mater Dei High School is one of the largest Catholic high schools in the United States...
in the 15th round (452nd overall) by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
1996 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1996 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 4 and 5, 1996...
.
Hessman spent eight years in the Braves organization before finally making his major league debut on August 22, . His first major league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
was a pinch-hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
on August 26, 2003, off New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Mike Stanton.
He signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers on January 7, . He played for the Tigers' Triple-A team, the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
for the whole season. He hit 28 home runs, one every 16.89 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, and helped the Mud Hens win the Governors' Cup
Governors' Cup
The Governors' Cup is the trophy awarded each year to the champion of the International League, one of the two current Triple-A level minor leagues of Major League Baseball.-Governors' Cup history:...
, the trophy awarded to the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
champion.
In 2006, Hessman would again spend the whole season with the Mud Hens, hitting 24 home runs, one every 14.38 at-bats, but only batting .165 for the season, as the Mud Hens won the second of their back-to-back International League championships.
In , Hessman began the year for the Mud Hens again, and on June 1 hit his 68th home run as a Mud Hen, becoming Toledo's all time home run leader, passing Erve Beck. Hessman had his contract purchased by the Tigers on July 23, marking the first time he had been on a Major League roster since 2004. He had already hit 27 home runs for the Mud Hens, one every 13.19 at-bats. He had led the International League in home runs at the time of his call-up.
Hessman led the International League in both home runs (31) and RBIs (110), and on August 28, 2007, was named the 2007 International League's Most Valuable Player, the first Mud Hen to receive the award since 1996.
Hessman was a member of the Tigers organization again in 2008, and spent the beginning of the season in Toledo. On July 16, , Hessman was named to the United States national baseball team
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Hessman still ended up hitting 34 home runs for the Hens despite missing a month for the Olympics. Hessman was called up by Detroit on September 2, and played in 12 games for the Tigers, hitting .296 with 5 home runs. On September 4, 2009, Hessman played all nine positions while with the Toledo Mud Hens. He started at catcher and ended as the pitcher, blowing a save and picking up a loss. In October 2009, Hessman became a free agent.
On December 8, 2009, Hessman signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
On July 26, 2010, he was called up to replace Rod Barajas
Rod Barajas
Rodrigo Richard Barajas is a Mexican American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He came up to the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks in...
, who strained his right oblique. He spent the remainder of the season with the Mets, but played in only 32 games.
On November 10, 2010, Hessman and Omir Santos
Omir Santos
Omir Santos Rios is a Major League Baseball catcher. Santos has played for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets and Detroit Tigers.-Career:...
refused their minor league assignment and then became free agents. Hessman would later sign with the Orix Buffaloes
Orix Buffaloes
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka and Kobe, Japan. They play in the Pacific League. The team is owned by the Orix Group, a leading diversified financial services company based in Tokyo....
for the 2011 season.