FROM BUST TO BOOM

Devin Mesoraco reversed early pro struggles to become an all-star catcher

- KYLE BANDUJO

Failure is a foreign concept for most high school first-round picks, and Devin Mesoraco was no different. Other than Tommy John surgery as a sophomore, not much had slowed down Mesoraco on the field at Punxsutawney (Pa.) High.

The 2007 grad wrapped his prep career by winning a state championship and being drafted by the Reds at No. 15 overall. Touted as an athletic catcher with a strong chance to stick behind the plate, Mesoraco quickly signed for $1.4 million and reported to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

He then spent that summer learning a lot about failure. 

“All that stuff was very challenging. I struggled initially,” Mesoraco said. “You go to Florida and it’s a thousand degrees, and I’d never played in heat like that . . . It became somewhat overwhelming, I didn’t play very well.”