Hessman homers twice in Olympic tune-up

Tigers Minor Leaguer Mike Hessman hit a pair of home runs in Team USA's 17-5 mercy-rule win over Canada at Durham, N.C., in its final stateside warm-up before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Hessman, a third baseman at Triple-A Toledo and last year's International League MVP, drove in three runs on the night. He clocked a two-run shot in the United States' nine-run fifth, and then added a solo homer an inning later to help lift the Americans to their third straight exhibition victory.

The 30-year-old Hessman currently leads the International League with 32 home runs. He led the IL in homers (31) and RBIs (101) last season.

USA Today posted an article featuring Hessman on Aug. 1: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/team/2008-07-31-hessman-feature_N.htm

Toledo now Worth-less

Mud Hens shortstop Danny Worth, considered the best infield defender in the Tigers' farm system, will likely miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury. He felt stiffness in the shoulder last week, and the team medical staff determined he should not participate in the final leg of the schedule.

Worth's trip to the disabled list marked his second in three weeks. While at Double-A Erie, he went on the DL with problems in the same shoulder.

It's uncertain how this will affect him next season. If he heals without complications, Worth could compete for the Tigers' starting shortstop position, assuming the team turns down Edgar Renteria's option for 2009.

1B prospect breaks Lakeland dinger record

Class A Lakeland first sacker Ryan Strieby set a new single-season franchise record Saturday when he launched his 25th home run of the year. Alejandro Freire held the previous record with 24 in 1997.

The Tigers' fourth-round pick out of the University of Kentucky in 2006, Strieby earned his first Florida State League All-Star selection this season. He leads the league in home runs, is tied for the league lead with 83 RBIs and ranks third with a .535 slugging percentage. Defensively, he leads the league's first basemen in fielding percentage at .993.

Baseball America magazine named him the 28th-best prospect in the Tigers' system following last season.

-- Scott McNeish