ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Omaha Storm Chasers outfielder Wil Myers has hit a Minor League Baseball™ best 28 home runs to sit atop the leaderboard for the Joe Bauman Home Run Award, presented by Musco Sports Lighting. The top regular season home run hitter in the domestic-based leagues wins the Joe Bauman Trophy and a check representing $200 for each one he hit. Myers has hit one more long ball than Mike Hessman, the Oklahoma City first baseman who is the active leader in career MiLB™ home runs with 356.

Myers, 21, began his season with Double-A® Northwest Arkansas. The Kansas City Royals prospect hit 13 home runs in 35 games before earning a promotion in the middle of May to Triple-A® Omaha. Myers has hit 15 dingers for the Storm Chasers so far, including nine last month.

Brad Eldred of Toledo is four behind Myers with 24. Cody Decker (San Antonio), Mike Olt (Frisco) and Anthony Rizzo, who was recalled by the Chicago Cubs on June 26, each have 23.

Classification leaders, provided they are not the overall winner, receive a $500 cash award. Hessman leads Triple-A by three over Eldred. Rizzo trails Hessman by four and Charlotte's Dan Johnson is five behind.

Olt has a three-homer cushion in Double-A over Nathan Freiman (San Antonio) and Luke Murton (Trenton). Decker, who hit four homers in Triple-A to begin his season, and Chris McGuiness (Frisco) each have 19 Double-A home runs.

Telvin Nash (Lancaster) and Aaron Baker (Frederick) are tied atop the tight Class A® leaderboard with 22.

Matthew Skole of Hagerstown is just one homer behind, but he has been on the disabled list with a hand injury since July 10. Jared Clark (Modesto), C.J. Retherford (Rancho Cucamonga) and Dusty Robinson (Stockton) are all just a couple back of the leaders.

Joey Gallo of the Rangers in the Arizona League paces all Short Season-A™ and Rookie® league players with 10 home runs. Patrick Leonard (Burlington) is two behind. Saxon Butler (Staten Island), Fred Ford (Burlington), Robert Maddox (Billings) and Daniel Vogelbach (Cubs) all have seven.

Chicago Cubs All-Star Bryan LaHair won won the Joe Bauman Home Run Award last year when he hit 38 home runs for the Iowa Cubs.