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CINCINNATI (AP) — Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco will have surgery on his left shoulder next Tuesday, resulting in a second straight season wiped out by injury.
Mesoraco tore the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. After getting a second opinion, he decided to have surgery. He'll be in rehabilitation for four to six months.
"This is certainly not the way I drew it up," Mesoraco said Friday. "It's frustrating. I worked so hard in the offseason to get the point where I could play, and this starts (hurting) during the first week of the season.
"It's just hard to believe."
The 27-year-old catcher was an All-Star for the first time in 2014, when he hit 25 homers and drove in 80 runs. A sore hip limited him to 23 games last season and required surgery. He was still limited to playing occasionally during spring training, but homered in his first at-bat — an encouraging sign.
He was back as the starting catcher on opening day, but the shoulder began bothering him after a few games. Doctors said the shoulder injury was probably the result of wear-and-tear during his career. He ended up playing in 16 games, batting .140 with one double and one RBI.
The Reds had hoped to have him back for an entire season so he could help develop their young pitching staff. The goal now is to have him ready for the start of spring training.
"Here's a kid who worked so hard to come back, and then has a setback not related to the previous injury," manager Bryan Price said. "It's frustrating."
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