Baseball America has ranked Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco the fifth-best prospect in a loaded Carolina League Top 20.

   The 6-foot-1, 220-pound 22-year-old ranked behind Atlanta pitcher Julio Teheran and a trio of Kansas City prospects -- first baseman Eric Hosmer, left-handed pitcher John Lamb and catcher Wil Myers. Mesoraco posted a line of 13-31-.294/.363/.594 in 187 at bats. Twenty-seven of his 55 hits were for extra bases. Mesoraco walked 18 times and struck out 37. He went .302/.377/.587 combined in High-A, Double-A and Triple-A this season, so he's likely to show up on another list or two as BA progresses with releasing its league rankings.

   Mesoraco threw out 44 percent of attempted basestealers while in the Carolina League. Only Toronto's J.P. Arencibia hit more than Mesoraco's 26 home runs among all minor league catchers this season. BA lauded Mesoraco for his improved agility and athleticism behind the plate and said he needs to improve his strike zone judgment.

  

   The Reds had no players in BA's Midwest League Top 20, although writer Jim Callis really liked Ryan LaMarre, who didn't get to the league until after being drafted in June. Shortstop Didi Gregorious and second baseman Henry Rodriguez drew some praise, too, but Callis said the league was so deep in prospects there was no room for them in the Top 20.