And he's also facing pitchers around his age. Yes, pitchers are usually ahead of hitters at that stage (pitchers don't have as many adjustments to make jumping straight from high school like trying to get used to a wooden bat) but it's still not a good sign that Mesoraco is struggling so much already.
And another thing we must remember is that he isn't just facing recently-drafted high school pitchers, he is also facing former college pitchers who weren't drafted very high. So, clearly there is no reason to be alarmed just yet -- he's not going to reach Stubbs status (not hating, but that was a horrible pick for top 10 overall, gotta be real about it) -- but I would like to see him end the season on a high note. Then, he can start next year at Dayton and hopefully be able to hold his own.
"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."
--Woody Hayes
I expect he will start at Dayton. Don't overestimate what now means. When Kendall came up through the Pirates system over a decade ago, his "rookie ball" season wasn't overly impressive. I could see Mesoraco reaching that level before it is all said and done. Then Kendall improved somewhat his first full year in low A and really exploded as a 20 year old.
I agree. No way he starts the season at Billings IMO. That league doesn't even start until mid-summer. What are they going to do, just have him play in extended spring training for two months? I don't think so. I definitely look for him to be with the Dragons from start to finish next year. Might have a rocky year at times, but hopefully he holds his own and then some.
I actually have an inside source with the Brackman negotiations, and from what I could glean, Brackman, Moeller's finest as well as a Boras' client, will most likely recieve a 4 million dollar bonus on the last day he can sign (August 15th) to not pull an Aaron Boone (Brack can never play basketball again). Furthermore, I was informed that he will recieve some sort of contract/bonus of 8 million dollars when he hits the bigs. Obviously, this is all speculation, but it looks like Brackman will break through Price's "absolute ceiling", however this may be in large part due to his basketball abilities.
If there's something KeyMastur understands, it's failure. I have my doubts, but he might be right about this.
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Sorry, I have to have higher expectations than the No. 15 overall pick of the draft starting his second season of pro ball in extended spring training. If he is healthy, he starts at Dayton.
Devin hit his first pro home run yesterday. Congrats, Kid!
Code:Devin, Mesoraco 37 | C Status: Active GCL Reds Rookie Gulf Coast League MLB Parent Club: Cincinnati Stats AVG: .244 HR: 1 RBI: 7 SB: 1 Bookmark Player Full Name: Devin Mesoraco Born: 06/19/1988 Birthplace: Punxsutawney, PA Height: 6' 1" Weight: 200 Bats: R Throws: R 2007 Season Team League AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS RDS GCL .244 22 78 9 19 2 0 1 7 24 7 14 1 0 .322 .308 .630 Minors .244 22 78 9 19 2 0 1 7 24 7 14 1 0 .322 .308 .630 Last 10 Games: (Current team only) Date OPP AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS Jul 17 ORI .500 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Jul 18 @PIR .333 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Jul 19 @RSX .250 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jul 21 @TWI .250 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 Jul 22 @ORI .000 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Jul 23 @PIR .000 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Jul 27 @ORI .000 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Jul 29 RSX .667 3 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 Aug 01 ORI .200 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Aug 03 RSX .500 4 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 Totals .243 37 4 9 1 0 1 3 3 8 1 0 Splits: (Current team only) Entire Season AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS OBP SLG OPS vs Left .250 12 3 3 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 .250 .500 .750 vs Right .242 66 6 16 2 0 0 6 7 13 0 0 .333 .273 .606 Home Games .308 10 39 7 12 1 0 1 4 3 5 1 0 .357 .410 .767 Away Games .179 12 39 2 7 1 0 0 3 4 9 0 0 .289 .205 .494 Day Games .237 21 76 9 18 2 0 1 7 5 14 1 0 .301 .303 .604 Night Games .500 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 .750 .500 1.250 On Grass .244 22 78 9 19 2 0 1 7 7 14 1 0 .322 .308 .630 June .167 3 12 1 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 .231 .250 .481 July .246 17 57 5 14 1 0 0 5 6 13 0 0 .338 .263 .602 August .333 2 9 3 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 .333 .667 1.000 Bases Empty .273 44 1 12 1 0 1 1 4 6 0 0 .347 .364 .711 Runners On .206 34 8 7 1 0 0 6 3 8 1 0 .289 .235 .525 Scoring Position .250 24 7 6 1 0 0 6 3 7 0 0 .333 .292 .625 Season Totals .244 22 78 9 19 2 0 1 7 7 14 1 0 .322 .308 .630 Click here to find out more!
0 Value Over Replacement Poster
"Sit over here next to Johnathan (Bench)...sit right here, he's smart."--Sparky Anderson
From BP's Goldstein; a review of the first rounders.
15. Reds: Devin Mesoraco, C, Punxsutawney HS (Pennsylvania)
Advisor: Hank Sargent
Status: Signed June 22nd; $1.4 million
Where It’s At: The way Mesoraco zoomed up on draft boards in the last weeks leading up to the draft, even an underslot bonus seemed good. Rarely tested against top competition in high school, it’s not a big shock that Mesoraco is struggling early as a pro, batting just .244/.319/.317 in his first 23 Gulf Coast League games, but throwing out nearly 40 percent of opposing basestealers.
0 Value Over Replacement Poster
"Sit over here next to Johnathan (Bench)...sit right here, he's smart."--Sparky Anderson
Like the rest of you, I am just hoping this kid turns out to be a good player. We absolutely cannot afford to have two first-round draft busts in back-to-back years.
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