IL1 International League

International League Player of the Week

Published on April 28, 2008 under International League (IL1) News Release


The International League announced today that Toledo third baseman Mike Hessman and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitcher Darrell Rasner have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher-of-the-Week for the period from April 21-27. Each is the first member of their respective club to win an IL weekly award this season.

MIKE HESSMAN, Toledo Mud Hens IL BATTER OF THE WEEK Reigning International League Most Valuable Player Mike Hessman continued his dominance of IL pitching this week to the tune of a .348 average (8-23) with three home runs and six RBI. His three bombs tied for the most in the League over the past seven days, while his .870 slugging percentage and eight runs scored were tops in the IL. Hessman's outburst helped spark the Mud Hens to five straight victories, pulling out in front in the IL West Division with a 15-8 record. Only one man in League history has won consecutive MVP Awards (Roberto Petagine, 1997-98), and thus far Hessman is making a strong case to be the second. He is at or near the top of the IL in several offensive categories with 8 home runs (1st), 17 extra base hits (1st), 20 RBI (T-1st), 19 runs scored (T-1st), and a .685 slugging percentage (2nd).

30-year-old Mike Hessman is in his 13th professional season, and his 4th in the Detroit farm system. This marks his 7th season in the International League. From 2002-04 with Richmond, Hessman hit .264 with 61 HR and 183 RBI in 308 games. Now in his 4th season with the Mud Hens, Hessman is the franchise's all-time leader in homers (91) and RBI (244). Hessman is a native of Fountain Valley, CA.

G AVG H AB R 2B 3B HR RBI SLUG BB SB Week: 6 .348 8 23 8 1 1 3 6 .870 4 1 Season: 23 .292 26 89 19 7 2 8 20 .685 9 2

DARRELL RASNER, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees IL PITCHER OF THE WEEK Entering the week, it was hard to imagine that Scranton/Wilkes-Barre right-hander Darrell Rasner could do better than he had in his first three starts of the season, in which he combined to go 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA. Rasner did just that, winning both of his starts this week and allowing just one run in 14.0 innings to improve his record to 4-0 and lower his ERA to 0.87. Rasner turned in an 8.0-inning gem Monday night against Rochester, surrendering only two hits and one walk while striking out five. He followed that performance by winning Game 1 of a doubleheader yesterday at Syracuse. Rasner allowed just one run on five hits in 6.0 innings, matching a season-high with six strikeouts. The victory helped keep the Yankees in 1st place, now 2.0 games ahead of Syracuse in the IL North Division. Rasner's 0.87 ERA is 4th among qualifying IL pitchers, and he is also among the leaders in wins (T-1st), innings pitched (3rd), and strikeouts (4th).

27-year-old Darrell Rasner is in his third season in the Yankees organization after being claimed off of waivers from the Washington Nationals following the 2005 season. Rasner has appeared in 17 games in the majors (10 starts) with the Nationals and Yankees, posting a 4-5 record with a 4.13 ERA. Rasner is a native of Carson City, NV.

G GS CG SHO W-L ERA IP H R ER BB K SV Week: 2 2 0 0 2-0 0.90 10.0 6 2 1 3 10 0 Season: 4 4 0 0 2-1 3.12 17.1 14 8 6 9 16 0

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International League Stories from April 28, 2008


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