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.
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
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
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