Reds' Devin Mesoraco working hard to post 2014 numbers

GOODYEAR, Ariz. —One of the keys for the Reds this season is getting as much production from catcher Devin Mesoraco.

Mesoraco had his breakout year last year. He hit .273 with 25 home runs and 80 RBI. His on-base percentage was .359 and his slugging percentage was .534. Those were career-highs across the board. He led the Reds in slugging and on-base and tied Todd Frazier for the team lead in RBI.

It's hard to predict whether Mesoraco can put up similar numbers. If he doesn't, it won't been from lack of effort.

"He's a great professional," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He wants to be outstanding at what he does. We all universally admire Devin for his work ethic and make-up."

Mesoraco, 26, signed a four-year, $28-million contract on Jan. 26. But he says this camp is not much different for him than last year's camp when he was still trying to prove he was an everyday big-league catcher.

"I want to say it's fairly similar," he said. "I've got a good routine. I just kind of follow that. I'm still kind of fixated on what I need to do to get ready. Nothing's really changed. I was comfortable last year, so I don't really feel any more comfortable this year. I think it's just a matter of getting ready for the season."

But last year did help his confidence.

"Until you've done it — you think you can —but you haven't done it," Mesoraco said. "I've had one good season. My focus is having multiple good seasons, where year after year I can be counted on to go out there and help the team produce runs, lead the pitching staff and do a good job."

Mesoraco's numbers play well for a catcher — and will continue to, even if he drops off slightly. After all, he joined Johnny Bench as the only Reds' catchers to produce 25 homers and 80 RBI in the same season.

But Bench's reputation was not earned just with the bat. His defense was the Gold Glove standard.

Mesoraco is trying to improve that part of his game this spring.

"There are some things I'm working on as far as catching," he said. "I'm trying to get my stance more consistent, precise. My throwing is always something I'm striving to get better at."

Mesoraco threw out 16 of 66 would-be base-stealers last year. He ranked 10th among qualified catchers in percentage of runners thrown out at 24 percent. But the 50 steals allowed were the second fewest among qualified catchers.

The Reds would like to continue to keep runners from attempting steals by throwing behind runners at first base.

"That's another area of focus with all our catchers — to make sure the base-runners aren't getting comfortable leads, comfortable secondary leads," Price said. "The guys like Pudge Rodriguez and Yadier Molina, the guys who are willing to throw behind runners, that really does force the base-runner to make a habit of having an acute awareness to get back to the bag on a pitch that's taken or swung at and missed. We want that with our catchers. We want runners to be aware that we'll back pick."

Spring is different for catchers. Besides offense and defense, they have to learn the pitching staff. The Reds will have two new starting pitchers and as many as four or five new relievers on the 25-man roster.

"You definitely have to catch them to learn them," Mesoraco said. "I'm watching everybody on video, so I have a pretty good idea going into a game. It's not like I'm completely unfamiliar with them. All the video helps.

"But until you get into game and feel their mentality out, you never know."

The Reds are pleased with Mesoraco's progress with that side of the game. The home runs and RBI get you named to the All-Star team like Mesoraco was last year. But catching is just as important.

"We just want him to continue to improve," Price said. "From a defensive standpoint, his game-calling has gotten better. His blocking and throwing improve greatly from the first half to the second."