University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt's Mesoraco Promoted from Volunteer to Assistant Coach
8/1/2023 11:30:00 AM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH - After spending the past three seasons as Pitt's volunteer assistant, Devin Mesoraco was promoted to assistant coach Tuesday morning.
"I'm very thankful to the University and coach Bell for allowing me to continue to be part of this program," said Mesoraco. "The last three years have been incredibly rewarding working with the student athletes at Pitt. Pittsburgh is my home, and I look forward to helping our players for years to come."
As a volunteer assistant, Mesoraco served as the first base coach and worked primarily with the catchers. In this new role he will continue to work with the program's catchers, while also serving as the bench coach with a focus on in-game offensive and defensive strategies.
The catching tandem of Jayden Melendez and Johnny Long III saw success both at the dish and behind it last season. Melendez was one of five Panthers last year to hit double digit home runs (10), he drove in 22 runs, slugged .550 and had a .909 OPS in addition to that. Long III recorded 23 hits, scored 14 runs, had 12 RBI and hit two home runs last season as well. The tandem each threw out seven would-be base stealers this past season, and were a calming presence behind the plate for the Panther pitching staff.
In 2022, catcher Tatem Levins was selected in the eighth round (No. 246) of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. Levins started all 56 games for the Panthers, leading the squad in batting average (.321), slugging percentage (.613), OPS (1.048), hits (68), extra base hits (27), home runs (16) and total bases (130).
"We are so fortunate to have someone with the knowledge and feel for the game that Devin brings to our program each and every day," said head coach Mike Bell. "His years of experience, wealth of knowledge and more importantly his genuine passion to help others grow in the game of baseball is unparalleled."
Mesoraco joined the Panthers after spending eight years as a catcher in the big leagues. He made his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 3, 2011 and spent nearly his entire career with the organization before ending it with the Mets in 2018. He was selected to the MLB All-Star Game in 2014 and finished that season with 25 home runs and 80 runs batted, leading all major league catchers in home runs and slugging percentage (.534). He wrapped up his professional tenure with a career-batting average of .232, 58 homers and 192 RBI's.
Selected by the Reds with the 15th overall pick of the 2007 MLB Draft, Mesoraco had a decorated prep career at nearby Punxsutawney Area High School. He set school records in walks, runs, hits, doubles, home runs and stolen bases. As a senior he led the Chucks to the PIAA Class AAA State Championship and was named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year.
