Mesoraco ready to start '12 season in Cincinnati
Lead Summary

By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — The Cincinnati Reds will have a new face hiding behind a mask this upcoming season as the revamped pitching staff will be throwing to rookie Devin Mesoraco, who will make his home behind the plate this upcoming season.
A native of DuBois, Pa., Mesoraco played in 18 games last season for Cincinnati, making his debut on Sept. 3, 2011 at Busch Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals. He made the most of his opportunity that night, hitting a double in his only at-bat.
"When I was called up, it was really cool. I had a pretty good idea just from talking to my manager Rick Sweet in Louisville," Mesoraco said in Chillicothe at the WBEX 1490 AM radio station during the '12 Reds Caravan media event. "The only thing I didn't know was when I was going to play."
Mesoraco, who grew up idolizing former Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall because he "played the game right," spoke about his first game.
"It was awesome, that first game. Cincinnati and St. Louis probably aren't on the best of terms … but I hit my double and the whole stadium was clapping, up until the next batter. It was a pretty special moment for me, being my first at-bat and my first hit. Just to have the opposing fans give you that warm of a welcome was nice."
Mesoraco, the No. 15 overall pick in '07, finished the '11 season with a .180 batting average, with nine hits, including three doubles and two home runs. He finished with six RBIs and five runs. In the minors last season he batted .289 with 126 hits (36 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs) in 436 at-bats (120 games). He also added 71 RBIs and 60 runs in Louisville.
What does he expect for himself for this season?
"A lot of people ask if there is a lot of pressure on me being a first-round pick, but honestly nobody is going to put more pressure on me than myself," Mesoraco said. "I expect a lot, and to come through the minor leagues like I expected … right now I'm right where I expected to be.
"I just got to do my job in the big leagues and stick up there for a long time."
As this will be his first full season with the Reds, Mesoraco has the opportunity to play on a team that two seasons ago were NL Central Division champions. Last season the Reds finished in third place at 79-83, but in a few short months the entire division has changed, possibly in favor of the Reds.
To regain the division crown, the development of the rookie catcher will be important to the overall progression of the team itself, as Ramon Hernandez, last year's primary catcher, signed as a free agent with the Colorado Rockies.
Mesoraco will share time with Ryan Hanigan this season.
[[In-content Ad]]"Just from texting back and forth about some of the moves made with some of the guys, we are always ready to go," Mesoraco said. "I think last year was kind of a disappointing season. A little bit of that is staying healthy … you can't put a price on that.
"That is one of the biggest things that has to happen. If Scott Rolen is healthy, he's going to be our leader at third base. If we can stay healthy, with the additions we made to our pitching staff, we'll be very successful."
Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty said Mesoraco brings a defensive presence behind the plate.
"Devin is an excellent defensive catcher, and he'll bring good offense, and I think he just needs to continue to get experience and work with the pitching staff," Jocketty said. "I think he'll develop into one of the top young catchers in the game."
Mesoraco talked about the pitching staff for the upcoming season.
"It's going to be exciting. You throw in the three guys with their talent (Mat Latos, Sean Marshall and Ryan Madson) in addition with the guys we already have, it just lengthens everything out," he said. "Everybody moves a spot down in the rotations (with the additions).
"Say a guy was throwing in the eighth inning before, maybe he'll be in the seventh now. Guys with that kind of talent, I'm sure they will come in and hopefully fit right in with what we've got going on."
He even spoke about catching the man with the fastest timed pitch in history, Aroldis Chapman. Chapman has been timed with a fastball of 106 mph.
"When he is on, in the zone, it is pretty easy," Mesoraco said. "When you have a straight ball that's easy, but whenever he's off a little bit, you are fighting back there to put a glove on it because it could be high, it could be low. He's coming around as a starter; it's only going to help.
"With the type of arm speed he has, he can't get everything down right away. It's going to take some time, and he'll get there."
For fans wanting to get to know what type of player he is, Mesoraco described himself as "an all-around type of catcher."
"I think defensively is the aspect of the game where I try to spend the most amount of my time on," he said. "If the pitchers aren't happy, then nobody's going to be happy because they control the game out there.
"Otherwise, I'm just a catcher who swings the bat around with a little bit of power."
Listen to Cincinnati Reds baseball all season long on WBEX 1490 AM and Cool Oldies 1250 WCHO-AM.
A native of DuBois, Pa., Mesoraco played in 18 games last season for Cincinnati, making his debut on Sept. 3, 2011 at Busch Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals. He made the most of his opportunity that night, hitting a double in his only at-bat.
"When I was called up, it was really cool. I had a pretty good idea just from talking to my manager Rick Sweet in Louisville," Mesoraco said in Chillicothe at the WBEX 1490 AM radio station during the '12 Reds Caravan media event. "The only thing I didn't know was when I was going to play."
Mesoraco, who grew up idolizing former Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall because he "played the game right," spoke about his first game.
"It was awesome, that first game. Cincinnati and St. Louis probably aren't on the best of terms … but I hit my double and the whole stadium was clapping, up until the next batter. It was a pretty special moment for me, being my first at-bat and my first hit. Just to have the opposing fans give you that warm of a welcome was nice."
Mesoraco, the No. 15 overall pick in '07, finished the '11 season with a .180 batting average, with nine hits, including three doubles and two home runs. He finished with six RBIs and five runs. In the minors last season he batted .289 with 126 hits (36 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs) in 436 at-bats (120 games). He also added 71 RBIs and 60 runs in Louisville.
What does he expect for himself for this season?
"A lot of people ask if there is a lot of pressure on me being a first-round pick, but honestly nobody is going to put more pressure on me than myself," Mesoraco said. "I expect a lot, and to come through the minor leagues like I expected … right now I'm right where I expected to be.
"I just got to do my job in the big leagues and stick up there for a long time."
As this will be his first full season with the Reds, Mesoraco has the opportunity to play on a team that two seasons ago were NL Central Division champions. Last season the Reds finished in third place at 79-83, but in a few short months the entire division has changed, possibly in favor of the Reds.
To regain the division crown, the development of the rookie catcher will be important to the overall progression of the team itself, as Ramon Hernandez, last year's primary catcher, signed as a free agent with the Colorado Rockies.
Mesoraco will share time with Ryan Hanigan this season.
[[In-content Ad]]"Just from texting back and forth about some of the moves made with some of the guys, we are always ready to go," Mesoraco said. "I think last year was kind of a disappointing season. A little bit of that is staying healthy … you can't put a price on that.
"That is one of the biggest things that has to happen. If Scott Rolen is healthy, he's going to be our leader at third base. If we can stay healthy, with the additions we made to our pitching staff, we'll be very successful."
Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty said Mesoraco brings a defensive presence behind the plate.
"Devin is an excellent defensive catcher, and he'll bring good offense, and I think he just needs to continue to get experience and work with the pitching staff," Jocketty said. "I think he'll develop into one of the top young catchers in the game."
Mesoraco talked about the pitching staff for the upcoming season.
"It's going to be exciting. You throw in the three guys with their talent (Mat Latos, Sean Marshall and Ryan Madson) in addition with the guys we already have, it just lengthens everything out," he said. "Everybody moves a spot down in the rotations (with the additions).
"Say a guy was throwing in the eighth inning before, maybe he'll be in the seventh now. Guys with that kind of talent, I'm sure they will come in and hopefully fit right in with what we've got going on."
He even spoke about catching the man with the fastest timed pitch in history, Aroldis Chapman. Chapman has been timed with a fastball of 106 mph.
"When he is on, in the zone, it is pretty easy," Mesoraco said. "When you have a straight ball that's easy, but whenever he's off a little bit, you are fighting back there to put a glove on it because it could be high, it could be low. He's coming around as a starter; it's only going to help.
"With the type of arm speed he has, he can't get everything down right away. It's going to take some time, and he'll get there."
For fans wanting to get to know what type of player he is, Mesoraco described himself as "an all-around type of catcher."
"I think defensively is the aspect of the game where I try to spend the most amount of my time on," he said. "If the pitchers aren't happy, then nobody's going to be happy because they control the game out there.
"Otherwise, I'm just a catcher who swings the bat around with a little bit of power."
Listen to Cincinnati Reds baseball all season long on WBEX 1490 AM and Cool Oldies 1250 WCHO-AM.