The Cincinnati Reds optioned Devin Mesoraco to Triple-A Louisville before Thursday’s 4-3, 11-inning loss to the Phillies.
Mesoraco, the Reds’ No. 1 prospect coming into the year, has caught two days out of five all season. But he has struggled at the plate — .210 with five home runs and 14 RBI.
He can still be on the postseason roster.
“We’re hoping so,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “We’re hoping that’s what the final outcome is. It depends on him. It depends on the progress he makes. We really want to stress it had nothing to do with his suspension.
“This has been dabbled about for a while. You could see his confidence had gone down some. We want him to get his confidence back — offensively, defensively, throwing, all kind of ways. I had a long chat with him. He’s struggled before but he always comes back.”
Mesoraco started 48 games. He caught Homer Bailey and Mike Leake.
“It’s a tough position,” Baker said. “Like I said in spring training, a rookie catcher, especially who’s not playing. (Ryan) Hanigan is playing so well. … We’re hoping (Mesoraco) goes down and works with our catching instructor Rick Sweet and gets some fun back in the game. Take some pressure off himself.”