Mesoraco named Reds' Minor League Player of the Year

December 3, 2010

Punxsy's Devin Mesoraco was named the Cincinnati Reds' Minor League Player of the Year Friday night at Redsfest in Cincinnati. (Photo submitted)

CINCINNATI — The 2010 success of Punxsy native Devin Mesoraco has earned the baseball player some Cincinnati Reds hardware.

Mesoraco, who swiftly advanced from Class A to Class AAA this past summer, won the Chief Bender Award as the franchise's Minor League Player of the Year for 2010 at Redsfest Friday night in Cincinnati.

Mesoraco, a 2007 first-round draft pick of the Reds, started the year at the Class A Advanced Lynchburg Hillcats. After hitting .335 with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs through 43 games, he was promoted to the Class AA Carolina Mudcats.

With the Mudcats, the catcher batted .294 with 13 home runs and 31 RBIs during 56 games before advancing to the Class AAA Louisville Bats.

Mesoraco concluded the season with the Bats, hitting three home runs and registering 13 RBIs during 14 regular-season games.

During his first game with the Bats, the slugger hit a walk-off grand slam to the delight of the Louisville crowd.

His 2010 numbers include a .302 average, 26 home runs, 75 RBIs, 25 doubles and 71 runs scored. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) was .964.