The Reds need Devin Mesoraco healthy. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
CHICAGO — Devin Mesoraco hasn’t touched his catcher’s mitt in the better part of a month, a by-product of the hip injury that has kept the Cincinnati Reds catcher out of the line-up while he heals.
Mesoraco made his first start since April 11 on Saturday against the Chicago White Sox, filling the designated hitter role that affords Reds manager Bryan Price to use Mesoraco as more than a pinch-hitter.
While there’s nothing Mesoraco can do to speed up his rehab, he is trying to do what he can to begin the preparations for when he can return to the Reds on a full-time basis.
“It’s going to be difficult to jump right back in there and feel the same,” Mesoraco said Sunday when he had an RBI triple and scored a run in the Reds’ 4-3 loss to the White Sox. “But it’s definitely nice to get back in there and hopefully help the guys out a little bit.”
Mesoraco said over the past couple of days, he feels like his hip is improving. Although Price hasn’t been able to test Mesoraco at different positions like he could perhaps with another position player, he likes being able to throw Mesoraco in at DH, which he did on Sunday against the White Sox.
The Reds are trying to avoid having Mesoraco go through surgery, which would likely sideline him for the rest of the year. For the time being, Mesoraco will do his best to remain patient.
“It’s certainly difficult,” he said. “This definitely wasn’t the way I imagined the year going and it’s definitely been difficult coming to the mark and not being able to be out there and helping and trying to get my body healthy, but hopefully, things will turn around here.
