Devin Mesoraco Feeling Better Expects Better Year

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Devin Mesoraco can work on his game this spring.

The Reds’ number one draft pick in 2007 was healthy last winter and was busy being a dad.  It was in contrast to the last three off seasons.

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Mesoraco played in 114 games in 2014.  He hit .273, led Major League catchers with 25 home runs, was named to the NL All-Star team by St. Louis manager and former catcher Mike Matheny.  The Reds made the decision to annoit Mesoraco the starting catcher by trading Ryan Hanigan at the end of 2013.

The move looked so good, they signed Mesoraco to a four-year contract to avoid arbitration.  The contract runs out after this season.

This season happens to be the first one since he signed that Mesoraco was ready to go when spring training camp opened.

“No doubt it’s been great coming in here and just working on my game,” Mesoraco said.  “I remember the last couple years, thinking I was doing a lot.  In actuallity, I wasn’t doing anything  at all.”

This year although he is now the backup to gold glove winner, Tucker Barnhart.  He is happy to get ready for the season.

“This year I can do everything without any restrictions,” Mesoraco said.  Last season he was limited to 39 starts at catcher and appeared in 56 games.  Mesoraco hit .232 with six home runs and 14 RBI, meanwhile Barnhart was recognized for his excellence on defense and had his best offensive season.

It was Barnhart’s turn to sign a contract extension through 2021 in September.

“Because of Mesoraco’s maturity and his professionalism, I don’t think he’s conceding anything,” Price said.  “When we’ve spoken about it.  He knows he has to stay healthy and perform to create his opportunities.  He knows the better he plays the more playing time he gets. He missed the bulk of the last three years and he takes ownership of that.”

There is no bitterness on Mesoraco’s fault.  Barnhart gives him part of the credit for his help.

“I work every day with Devin and Stuart Turner,” Barnhart said.  “I can’t thank those guys enough.”

It is a difficult thing for competitors who were stars all their lives to work within the team concept but Mesoraco does it.

“It is imperative to have someone as grounded as Mes,” Price said.  “It becomes cancerous to a ballclub when they’re not.  Disgruntled players who where that on their shoulde in the clubhouse become bad guys.  Devin’s not that guy.  He’s a realist.  He understands what happened.  He took the job from somebody else.  We made a committment to him.  Ryan Hanigan was traded.  We went all in on Devin.”

Other than having a six month old son, Luke Devin crawling around, Mesoraco had a normal off season even though it was cut short again by a broken foot that cost him the last six weeks of the season.

“I was able to start my workouts when I wanted to.  I was able to start hitting when I wanted to, no restrictions,” Mesoraco said.  “I’m thankful that nothing I had lingered too far into the off season. It makes a big difference.”

The off season work has shown itself this spring.  Mesoraco is hitting .267 with two doubles in 15 at bats, through Wednesday.

“Mesoraco looks really good. He’s moving behind the plate well.  He’s throwing well.  He looks more comfortable at the plate,” Bryan Price said.  “He looks healthy. He looks athletic.”


Mesoraco has been able to separate being a new dad with his job as a baseball player.

“We’re a lot busier.  We’re crawling around, standing up,” Mesoraco said.  “We’ve got our hands full. But it’s two separate things.  Once I go home, I’m just a dad at that point.  I don’t really think about baseball at all.  At the field I have to get my work done.”