Hessman, who capped his 20-year professional playing career by setting the Minor League home run record this past summer at Toledo, will start in Class A ball to begin his career, serving as the hitting coach for short-season Connecticut under former Mud Hens teammate Mike Rabelo.
Another former Tiger, Willie Blair, is returning to the organization as the pitching coach for Double-A Erie. A 16-game winner in Detroit in 1997, Blair will join two other ex-Tigers -- manager Lance Parrish and hitting coach Phil Clark -- on a revamped SeaWolves coaching staff behind Parrish, who returns for his third season.