Article published July 10, 2008
HENS NOTEBOOK
Hessman back in Triple-A All-Star home run derby
Hens left fielder Freddy Guzman makes a catch near the wall
last night against Scranton. Guzman also had a pair of hits.
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THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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By JOHN WAGNER
BLADE SPORT WRITER
For the second straight year Mike Hessman has been invited to participate in the 2008 Triple-A All-Star game's home run derby.
Time will tell if it's a good thing or a bad thing for the Mud Hens' slugging third baseman.
"It's exciting, obviously," Hessman said of his selection. "Unfortunately, I don't hit a lot of home runs in [batting practice]. I only hit two [in the home run derby] last year."
This year Hessman will compete against some of the top home-run hitters in minor-league baseball in the event, which will take place Monday at Louisville Slugger Field. It marks the third straight year the Mud Hens will have a player in the competition. Ryan Ludwick reached the finals in the 2006 event held at Fifth Third Field.
Hessman's competition will include Dallas McPherson of Albuquerque, who ranks first in minor-league baseball with 31 homers.
The other International League hitters in the contest are Pawtucket's Jeff Bailey and Jonathan Van Every, who have 23 and 22 homers, respectively.The rest of the derby roster includes former Mud Hen Jason Smith, who has hit 18 homers for Omaha, and Matt Brown of Salt Lake, who also has 18.
Hessman, the defending IL home run champion with 31 a year ago, again leads the league this season with 28. But he said that gives him no advantage in a home run derby.
"I was trying to hit [homers last year], maybe that's what hurt me," Hessman said. "I was missing balls, just hitting them to the warning track. Maybe I was trying to hit them a little too hard. In games, you let the pitcher supply the power.
"It's a good yard to hit in, so hopefully I can put on a better show this year."
Hessman said he'll try to win the derby, but his bigger concern is not to let the event mess up his swing.
"You start getting away from the approach of hitting up the middle and staying inside the ball," Hessman said.
"In a home run derby, you're just in their yanking and jerking [pitches]. It can cause some bad habits.
"You have to be careful and be smart. I'll just have some fun and try to put some over."
INJURY UPDATE: Most of the injury news surrounding the Mud Hens yesterday was bad.
The good news was that Erick Almonte, who missed Tuesday's game because of dizziness, was back in the lineup.
One piece of bad news was that Fernando Seguignol, who has been out with a bruised heel, had the injury X-rayed yesterday. Toledo manager Larry Parrish said Seguignol's status wouldn't be determined until the X-rays were examined.
And Nick Trzesniak, who went on the disabled list June 21 with an oblique strain, did not take batting practice yesterday. Parrish said he did not know when Trzesniak would return.
THREE-DOT DATA: Jeff Larish took ground balls at third base before yesterday's game. Parrish said Larish would be a candidate to play that position for Toledo if Hessman was named to the U.S. Olympic baseball team. Hessman said the Olympic team's roster would be announced next week. … Timo Perez and Freddy Guzman both extended hit streaks in the game. Guzman's triple in the third gives him hits in 11 straight games, while Perez now has hit in 12 in a row thanks to his fourth-inning homer.
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