Devin Mesoraco has joined the University of Pittsburgh baseball team as a volunteer assistant, per Kendall Rogers of d1baseball.com. Presumably, this means the former catcher’s playing days are done.
Mesoraco came highly-touted to the majors, from his selection at number fifteen overall in the 2007 draft, to his years as a top prospect in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization. He made his debut with the Reds in 2011 at the age of 23. Though he struggled over an 18-game sample, that did nothing to lessen the excitement over their presumed catcher of the future.
Before the start of the following season, Mesoraco was named the Reds’ number one prospect by Baseball America and a consensus top prospect in baseball. Baseball America had him as the #16 overall prospect in baseball prior to 2012 and Fangraphs had him at #15. Kevin Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus was slightly less bullish, but even he put Mesoraco at #24.
It was a tough era to be a top catching prospect, however (Jesus Montero, Travis d’Arnaud, Yasmani Grandal, Gary Sanchez, Wilin Rosario, Austin Hedges, Ryan Lavarnway, and Derek Norris were some of the other highly-regarded catching prospects). By the time Mesoraco was set to take over behind the plate in Cincinnati, he’d already suffered through a number of ticky-tack injuries. A high-character player, hopes were still high that he’d develop into a franchise catcher.
Though he didn’t quite reach those heights, he put together respectable major league career that lasted 8 seasons – all but the final 66 games taking place in Cincinnati. He largely struggled at the dish, but it all came together for a 26-year-old Mesoraco in 2014. That season, he appeared in 114 games and hit .273/.359/.534 with 25 home runs and 80 RBIs, making his lone All-Star appearance.
Injuries continued to play a part in Mesoraco’s career, however, and he only twice appeared in more than 100 games. In May of 2018 – his final season – the Reds traded Mesoraco to the Mets for another battered former top prospect in Matt Harvey. He did a nice job finishing that season for the Mets, hitting .222/.306/.409 with 10 long balls. If indeed this is it for Mesoraco, he’ll finish with a .232/.309/.406 line and 58 home runs, totaling 4.6 rWAR.
Probably gunna tear his labrum hitting fungos
probably done being held captive by the Mets
As opposed to the Phillies whose greatest generation was a fat 1B who stole money for years, a SS whose greatest accomplishment is breaking a lousy franchise’s all time hits record and a 2B who intentionally broke opponents legs?
Yeah, what angels.
funny, all three of them were part of a World Series. just a bunch of scrubs, eh?
The fact that the only one a singular title with that great of a team and against the Rays of all teams. So stfu buddy
Wow. They should keep you off the internet kiddo.
Njbirdsfan, that’s odd. I could have swore Howard, Rollins and Utley were all champions? A couple of them were MVP, one was ROY, all of them were all stars and SS winners. And up until the league got wussified, most players went into second base hard. And the best part, was that guy who “intentionally” broke legs, was also a 2B man who had to TAKE those slides. Lastly, you’re an idiot.
Ghult, How many WS did those great Braves teams in the 90s win, buddy?
You win
I’m a Braves fan. I say HI. Talent doesn’t ALWAYS equal World Series Titles. Three HOF SP’s, a HOF position player (SS,3B,OF) named Larry Wayne Jones (aka Chipper) & a possible future HOF OF’er Andruw Jones and a handful of above average players ONLY won a single World Series Title as well.
Prospect, I don’t disagree, but NJbird said the Phillies were weak.
No one forced him to sign a minor league deal for 2019 without an opt out.
His own fault or his agents fault.
He agreed to terms when he signed his contract. Many players willingly live on the bubble between MLB and AAA.
What!
Must not be a very interesting article because comments are allowed
Punxsutawney’s second favorite son.
Haha, UT has the better ex-MLB player. Tulo!
Great example of why signing to long term deals early on could be worth it. Security from injury and issues. And guaranteed millions.
Very true if mesoraco hadn’t signed that deal I don’t think he gets even a third of it. Might have been a solid player if not for the injuries which I wouldn’t call ticky tack most were pretty serious.
He picked the right time to have his one good year.
Ticky-tack
He signed a great deal early on with the little Reds. Big money. He, kind of like Homer Bailey, spent the rest of his career recovering from injuries after that 2014 season.
Anyone else think he looks like a young Rodney Dangerfield?
Good. With all his injuries, one more concussion could have resulted in permanent, significant damage.
Best of luck to Meso.