2007 Reds #1 Pick--Devin Mesoraco (Official Thread)

[BoydsOfSummer]

Biographical Data
    
Player Name:    Devin Mesoraco
Position:    Catcher
School:    Punxsutawney HS, Pa.
School Type:    High School
Academic Class:    Senior
Birthdate:    06/19/88
Height:    6'1"
Weight:    195 lbs.
Bats:    Right
Throws:    Right
Report Date(s):    04/23/07
Game(s):    Bald Eagle HS
Scouting Video:    

Focus Area
    
Comments
Hitting Ability:    Mesoraco has a ton of hitting ability, using a little leg kick in his approach, and doesn't swing at bad pitches.
Power:    Mesoraco has plus power. Right now, it's more pull power, but eventually he'll develop power to all fields.
Running Speed:    He's a fringy-average runner, which is pretty good for a catcher.
Arm Strength:    He has a plus arm and isn't afraid to use it in pick-off attempts.
Arm Accuracy:    His throws are always right on the money.
Fielding:    Mesoraco has plus hands behind the plate.
Range:    A terrific athlete, Mesoraco is outstanding at blocking balls in the dirt.
Baseball Instincts:    Off the charts. He's got great makeup, he's very aggressive and he's a natural leader behind the plate.
Physical Description:    Mesoraco is a strong backstop with a body type that might remind some of a Joe Girardi or Ivan Rodriguez.
Medical Update:    Mesoraco missed much of 2006 following Tommy John surgery, but now is completely healthy and clearly is having no problems with his throwing.
Strengths:    He's a complete package. He can hit with power and he can play defense with a strong arm and soft hands.
Weaknesses:    He tends to get out on his front foot on his swing from time to time.
Summary:    Mesoraco has answered any questions about his arm following Tommy John surgery a year ago and is on the rise among catching prospects. 
He's a complete catching package, with hitting ability, power, good hands, a plus arm and outstanding leadership ability.

From Brewerfan.net

High energy player with great, natural leadership skills. Mesoraco is an amazing natural athlete that was well known entering the year, but wasn't thought of as anything near a first-round pick. He had Tommy John surgery the fall of his junior year which led to a so-so year serving as his team's DH. Now fully healthy, he exploded this spring, with a huge season at the plate while showing off his big arm from behind it. He has above average tools across the board, and runs extremely well for a catcher. He has exciting power potential, and hits the ball to the gaps. He is athletic enough that he may be able to handle a move to second base a la Craig Biggio, but his arm is such a dynamic tool that it may be wasted there. He has committed to Virginia, where he was at first thought to be somewhat of a difficult sign, but now that he's a lock for the first round college won't be an option.

[AmarilloRed]

Let's bring him to the majors tomorrow!Didn't Dave Winfield go straight to the majors. I am only half-joking.

[mbgrayson]

HERE is a link to Devin Mesoraco's minor league stats.

[Degenerate39]

Has anyone seen this guy play? If so how has he been looking? I'm really curious about this kid.

[Eric_Davis]

He's struggling so far.

Five years from now when he's still in the minors, we can see how he's doing. Many of us will be dead by the time he ever reaches the Majors.

[BoydsOfSummer]

Devin went 1-3 today.

He's hitting .256/.373/.279 on the year. One extra base hit, a double.

	



GCL Reds
Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Reed CF	4	2	2	1	0	0	2	1	0	.282
Feiner 2B	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.265
Soto SS	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.357
Scott 1B	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	.326
Mesoraco DH	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.261
Brown LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.233
Wideman C	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.258
Sanchez a- PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.217
Pullen 3B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	.186
Cech b- PH	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	.385
Oliveras RF	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.157
Rodriguez, E P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Rice P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Gonzalez, A P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Beal P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000

BATTING
2B: Reed (2, Amaro), Cech (2, Paulino).
TB: Reed 3; Feiner 2; Soto; Mesoraco; Cech 2; Oliveras.
RBI: Reed 2 (7), Scott (4).
2-out RBI: Reed.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Mesoraco.
GIDP: Soto; Scott; Wideman.
Team LOB: 6.

BASERUNNING
SB: Feiner 2 (3, 2nd base off Krebs/Garcia, J, 2nd base off Vasquez/Garcia, J), Reed (7, 3rd base off Vasquez/Garcia, J).

FIELDING
E: Rodriguez, E (1, throw), Soto 2 (9, throw, fielding), Wideman (2, pickoff).
Pickoffs: Rodriguez, E (Latimore at 1st base), Gonzalez, A (Bomback at 1st base).

a-Struck out for Wideman in the 9th. b-Doubled for Pullen in the 9th.
GCL Pirates
Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Fields 2B	4	2	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.274
Rosero LF	2	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.263
Latimore CF	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	1	.266
Fitzpatrick 1B	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.257
Bomback 3B	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.232
Peley DH	2	1	1	0	0	1	2	1	0	.316
Canal RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	.208
Garcia, J C	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.226
Rice SS	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.100
Amaro P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Krebs P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Vasquez P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Paulino P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000

BATTING
2B: Fitzpatrick (5, Rice).
HR: Peley (1, 4th inning off Rodriguez, E, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Fields 3; Rosero; Latimore; Fitzpatrick 2; Bomback; Peley 4; Canal.
RBI: Rosero (6), Latimore 2 (10), Peley 2 (8).
2-out RBI: Latimore.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Fitzpatrick; Latimore; Garcia, J 2.
S: Rosero.
SF: Peley.
Team LOB: 5.

BASERUNNING
SB: Rosero (4, 2nd base off Rice/Wideman).
CS: Canal (2, 2nd base by Rodriguez, E/Wideman), Bomback (3, 2nd base by Gonzalez, A/Wideman), Fields (2, 3rd base by Rice/Wideman).
PO: Latimore (1st base by Rodriguez, E), Bomback (1st base by Gonzalez, A).

FIELDING
E: Bomback (3, throw).
DP: 3 (Rice-Fields-Fitzpatrick, Rice-Fitzpatrick, Amaro-Rice-Fitzpatrick).



GCL Reds
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Rodriguez, E (L, 1-1)	4.0	4	4	1	0	2	1	1.65
Rice 	2.2	5	2	2	0	2	0	3.66
Gonzalez, A 	0.2	0	0	0	2	1	0	11.25
Beal 	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

GCL Pirates
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Amaro (W, 1-0)	5.1	6	2	2	1	0	0	3.79
Krebs (H, 1)	1.2	0	0	0	2	0	0	1.35
Vasquez 	0.2	0	2	2	3	1	0	5.74
Paulino (S, 1)	1.1	2	1	1	0	1	0	5.40



WP: Rice, Beal, Vasquez.
HBP: Rice (by Rodriguez, E), Rosero (by Rice).
Ground outs-fly outs: Rodriguez, E 4-4, Rice 3-2, Gonzalez, A 0-0, Beal 1-0, Amaro 13-3, Krebs 1-4, Vasquez 1-0, Paulino 1-2.
Batters faced: Rodriguez, E 17, Rice 13, Gonzalez, A 3, Beal 2, Amaro 20, Krebs 7, Vasquez 5, Paulino 6.
Inherited runners-scored: Gonzalez, A 1-0, Beal 1-0, Krebs 1-0, Paulino 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Ryan Karle. 1B: Joe Bora. 2B: . 3B: .
Weather: 87 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 9 mph, L to R.
T: 2:35

[Chi-Town Red]

OPS .652 after 13 games

[TOBTTReds]

He's struggling so far.

Five years from now when he's still in the minors, we can see how he's doing. Many of us will be dead by the time he ever reaches the Majors.

Wow. He is done already. That would suck.

I like the fact his OBP is almost 120 points higher than his average. Patience is a virtue. I know his slugging is below sucking, but he is 19 and tasting more than HS pitching.

[AmarilloRed]

I was just saying we really need a catcher on the Reds. It sounds like Devin has a long way to go,though

[dougdirt]

I was just saying we really need a catcher on the Reds. It sounds like Devin has a long way to go,though

He does. He is 19 and just graduated high school three weeks ago.

[reds44]

I was just saying we really need a catcher on the Reds. It sounds like Devin has a long way to go,though

It's his 3rd week in the minors and he's just out of high school.

What did you expect?

[BoydsOfSummer]

Could a mod change the title of this to "Prospect Profile: Devin Mesoraco"

I didn't know what to title it after I drafted him.

Tanx

[BoydsOfSummer]

Last night Devin went 1-4 and had a passed ball, his third.

His OPS is a rough .653 but he sports a nice .373 OBP.

GCL Reds
Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Reed CF	4	1	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	.292
Moreta 2B	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.247
Soto SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	.345
Mesoraco C	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.260
Brown LF	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.237
Mendez 3B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.218
Scott a- PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.318
Sanchez 1B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.206
Cech b- PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.357
Waller DH	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.056
Pullen c- PH-DH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.182
Bastardo RF	3	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.269
Otterness P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Chiu P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Navarro P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Fiebig P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000

BATTING
2B: Moreta (4, Perez, P), Bastardo (1, Jimenez).
HR: Reed (1, 1st inning off Perez, P, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Reed 5; Moreta 2; Mesoraco; Brown; Bastardo 2.
RBI: Reed (8), Soto (17).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Mendez; Mesoraco 2; Pullen.
Team LOB: 6.

FIELDING
E: Sanchez (7, fielding).
PB: Mesoraco (3).
Pickoffs: Otterness (Beltre at 1st base).

a-Struck out for Mendez in the 9th. b-Grounded out for Sanchez in the 9th. c-Flied out for Waller in the 9th.
GCL Red Sox
Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Lin, C RF	3	2	2	1	0	0	0	2	0	.256
Dening DH	5	0	2	1	0	0	2	0	0	.272
Tejeda SS	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	.281
Sumoza LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.286
Beltre CF	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.205
Burgos 1B	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	.275
Blocker 3B	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.265
Gil, R C	4	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	.290
Solano 2B	4	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	1	.276
Perez, P P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Jimenez P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Gonzalez P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000

BATTING
2B: Lin, C (4, Otterness), Dening (6, Otterness), Blocker (7, Otterness).
TB: Lin, C 3; Dening 3; Beltre; Burgos; Blocker 2; Gil, R 2; Solano 3.
RBI: Tejeda (14), Dening 2 (11), Gil, R (6), Solano (4).
2-out RBI: Dening.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Gil, R; Sumoza; Tejeda 4; Dening.
Team LOB: 10.

BASERUNNING
SB: Solano (3, 2nd base off Otterness/Mesoraco), Burgos (1, 3rd base off Otterness/Mesoraco).
CS: Beltre (3, 2nd base by Otterness/Mesoraco), Solano (2, home by Otterness/Mesoraco).
PO: Beltre (1st base by Otterness).



GCL Reds
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Otterness (L, 0-3)	3.1	8	4	4	2	3	0	5.31
Chiu 	3.2	1	0	0	1	2	0	5.40
Navarro 	0.2	2	1	1	1	1	0	15.43
Fiebig 	0.1	1	0	0	0	0	0	3.55

GCL Red Sox
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Perez, P (W, 1-3)	6.0	3	1	1	1	4	1	3.49
Jimenez (H, 2)	2.0	2	1	1	0	3	0	3.18
Gonzalez (S, 2)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	4.22



WP: Otterness, Gonzalez.
HBP: Soto (by Perez, P).
Ground outs-fly outs: Otterness 4-1, Chiu 6-3, Navarro 0-1, Fiebig 0-1, Perez, P 8-6, Jimenez 1-2, Gonzalez 1-1.
Batters faced: Otterness 18, Chiu 14, Navarro 5, Fiebig 2, Perez, P 23, Jimenez 8, Gonzalez 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Chiu 2-0, Fiebig 3-1.
Umpires: HP: Joseph Born. 1B: Ryan Karle. 2B: . 3B: .
Weather: 95 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 1 mph, Varies.
T: 2:45

[BoydsOfSummer]

From the Hardball Times. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...d-picks-11-20/


15. C Devin Mesoraco, Reds





I like athletic catchers and Mesoraco certainly fits that description. Stop me if you've heard this one, but when Mesoraco lets the ball travel and get deep, he shows a quick, powerful swing. When he "goes and gets it," it looks like he's a little handsy. Minorleaguebaseball.com's take on Mesoraco seems to agree with me...

"He tends to get out on his front foot on his swing from time to time."

Both game swings in his draft video show him lunging after pitches and grounding out, so that would be my concern as well. He might need to shorten his swing just a tad (lower the hands maybe?).

Whether he needs to use the cue "trust your hands" (or "trust your body" as I'd rather say), Mesoraco's development hinges on letting the ball travel into the hitting zone. If it doesn't, Mesoraco has a quick release and excellent arm from behind the plate, so not all will be lost if he doesn't develop to his potential with the bat. From a potential point-of-view, I like the pick. There's work to do though.

[BoydsOfSummer]

Basic Statistics
Year	Age		Team	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007		Rookie	GCL Reds	59	50	5	13	1	0	0	4	7	6	.260	.373	.280	653
Extended Statistics
Year	Age		Team	PA	AB	ISOP	BB%	K%	BABIP	GB%	LD%	RC	RC/27	wOBA
2007		Rookie	GCL Reds	59	50	.020	11.9%	10.2%	.295	60%	5%	5	3.5	.315
Extended Statistics

2007: GCL Reds  
Split Statistics with GCL Reds in 2007
Split	PA	AB	ISOP	HR	BB%	K%	BABIP	GB%	LD%	AVG	OBP	SLG	wOBA
June	13	12	.083	0	7.7%	7.7%	.182	82%	0%	.167	.231	.250	.220
July	46	38	.000	0	13.0%	10.9%	.333	52%	7%	.289	.413	.289	.342
AWAY	29	23	.043	0	13.8%	6.9%	.286	76%	5%	.261	.414	.304	.349
HOME	30	27	.000	0	10.0%	13.3%	.304	42%	5%	.259	.333	.259	.282
Game Log
Date	Level		Pos	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	SO	BB	SB	CS
July 19	Rook	@ GCL Red Sox	C	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
July 18	Rook	@ GCL Pirates	DH	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
July 17	Rook	vs. GCL Orioles	C	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	1
July 16	Rook	@ GCL Twins	C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
July 13	Rook	vs. GCL Pirates	DH	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
July 12	Rook	@ GCL Orioles	C	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
July 11	Rook	vs. GCL Twins	C	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
July 8	Rook	@ GCL Pirates	C	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
July 7	Rook	vs. GCL Orioles	DH	5	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
July 6	Rook	@ GCL Twins	C	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0