Cincinnati Reds’ catcher Devin Mesoraco slow to come back from a series of injuries

The Cincinnati Reds’ catcher, Devin Mesoraco, continues to take time to return to form following injuries.

Devin Mesoraco has spent most of the past two seasons on the Cincinnati Reds’ DL after signing a long-term extension, including the start of this season. The Reds have suffered through years of Tucker Barnhart paired up with Brayan Pena and Ramon Cabrera. This year Barnhart and Mesoraco are the tandem once more in Cincinnati.

Of the Reds’ first 57 games, Mesoraco only played in 24. Barnhart played in 40 with Rule 5 draftee Stuart Turner having accounted for a few on his own. Mesoraco wasn’t medically cleared to play when the season first started.

Mesoraco missed the first month of the season before finally debuting on April 28. May 2nd and 3rd, he started two games in a row for the first time in the 2017 season. Since then he has played roughly every other game.

Although his totals are a bit down, Mesoraco is having a Mesoraco type season. He is batting .234, which is close to his career average. His .777 OPS this season is even 50 points higher than his career average.

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Because of his All Star season in 2014 it is easy to forget what an average Mesoraco season is. He averages He average 56 games with 200 at-bats. He gets on base at a .308 clip and averages 8 home runs a year.

Devin Mesoraco came to the Cincinnati Reds from Puxsatawney, Pennsylvania, but he doesn’t want to see anymore Ground Hog’s Days.

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Mesoraco is just hoping that this season doesn’t end the same way the past three have, with him on the DL. The past two seasons have been particularly difficult, as he hasn’t been able to get good traction. If he continues to play and hit at the same rate, he will hit as many home runs as he has since he last played a complete season.

The last time that Mesoraco played a full season was the first year of the rebuild. One of the signifying moves of the start of the rebuild was to trade Ryan Hanigan away. Since then the Reds have only had one full season of their starting catcher and three Ground Hog’s Days worth of injuries.

In the back drop of all of this is Mesoraco himself. This is his age 29 year. This should be the peak year of his career.

Granted, Mesoraco could have ten years left as a hitter and low usage catcher or first baseman. However, where does Mesoraco go next season? Do the Reds try to continue this charade of Mesoraco as an everyday catcher?

Next: Should the Reds trade Zack Cozart now?

Mesoraco is ideal as a back-up catcher and back-up DH. For the Reds he can probably catch another year or two. Wherever he is, here’s hoping he can finally stay healthy.

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