Mesoraco heads BA Reds Top 10 prospects

Devin Mesoraco heads Baseball America's Reds Top 10 prospects list.

The catcher ranks ahead of shortstop Billy Hamilton and firstbaseman/left fielder Yonder Alonso, respectively, in the top three. Catcher Yasmani Grandal rankes fourth and shortstop Zack Cozart is fifth, followed by right-handed pitchers Daniel Corcino and Robert Stephenson, shortstop Didi Gregorius, infielder Todd Frazier and right-handed pitcher Brad Boxberger.

I'd love to see what BA thinks of the Reds organization as a whole, but the information at the top of the article mistakenly pertains to the Miami Marlins, an error I'm sure BA editors will fix at some point today.

On Mesoraco, BA wrote the young catcher is ready to be an everyday starter and is a potential all-star. BA writers were very impressed with Hamilton's improvement in the second half last season and see him as needing at least two more minor league seasons before getting a look in the majors. BA wrote that Alonso is ready for everyday playing time, whether in Cincinnati with defensive deficiencies or elsewhere via trade.

Grandal, BA wrote, needs a full year in AAA and is trade bait. BA called Cozart the safest bet in the entire system, although scouts vary in their opinion if he's a regular on a title contender. BA wrote that Cozart provides solid defense an more than enough offense. Corcino was called a potential No. 3 starter who could be a back-end guy or even a set-up man.

Stephenson was lauded for his maturity and BA speculated that he might begin the season at Dayton. The writer indicated that Stephenson has the upside of a frontline starter. Gregorius, BA wrote, has a higher ceiling and comes with higher risk than Cozart. BA wrote that Frazier is more than ready for a big league job, but will have to settle for a utility position this season. BA was quite impressed with Boxberger's performance in the Arizona Fall League and regards him as a quality set-up man at worst and a closer in the right situation.