Detroit Tigers Prospects Ready for September Audition

May 30, 2014; Toledo, OH, USA; Toledo Mud Hens third baseman

(27) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Charlotte Knights 3-2 at Fifth Third Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Hessman, Third and First Base

No, the Tigers are not going to make a roster move just to bring the Minor League’s career home run champion to Detroit for a final big league hurrah, but it sure would be fun if they did. What better way to remind fans that Major League Baseball is essentially just a bunch of adults playing a kids game for money (granted, loads and loads of money).

Earlier this month Hessman became the MiLB’s Sultan of Swat with home run No. 433 for his career. Crash Davis can only dream of the numbers Hessman has put up since his professional baseball career began in 1996, where he hit one home run for the Atlanta Braves’ Gulf Coast Rookie League team.

In parts of five seasons in “The Show” Hessman collected only 42 hits in 250 plate appearances but 14 of those were home runs. He spent time in 2007 and 2008 with the Tigers and his last appearance in a big league uniform was in 2010 with the Mets. He’s planning to retire anyway. Why not bow to the magic of baseball and let him do it as a Major Leaguer.