CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Reds today signed top draft pick C Devin Mesoraco (6-2, 200, R-R) of Punxsutawney (PA) Area High School. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Mesoraco, 18, was selected by the Reds with the 15th pick overall in the opening round of Major League Baseball’s June first-year player draft. He will be assigned to the Gulf Coast League's Sarasota Reds.
"Devin is a little better athlete than you normally get at that position. It is a hard position to fill in the majors and in the minors, so we're pleased to find a catcher who is such a good athlete with such good makeup," said senior director of scouting Chris Buckley. "He runs well, and he's a good thrower. We're very thrilled to have him."
Mesoraco this season hit .467 with 4 HR, 21 RBI, a .632 on-base percentage and a .911 slugging percentage. He was the Gatorade Player of the Year for Pennsylvania and was ranked by Baseball America as one of the best prospects in the country.
He holds Punxsutawney High career records for walks (91), runs scored (122), hits (101), doubles (25), home runs (18) and stolen bases (35) and PHS single-season records for walks (31 in 2007) and runs scored (40 in 2005).
He is just the third catcher ever taken by the Reds with their top draft pick (Dan LaMar in 1979, Dan Wilson in 1990).