Cincinnati Reds Injury Update: Zack Cozart and Devin Mesoraco

The Cincinnati Reds suffered two detrimental injuries during the 2015 season. This winter in important in the recovery of Zack Cozart and Devin Mesoraco.

The Cincinnati Reds have struggled over the last two years, finishing fourth and fifth in the National League Central in 2014 and 2015, respectively. While the results haven’t been there, the team has the pieces in place to be a threat. Unfortunately, the development halted this season when the team suffered injuries to two of his rising starts, shortstop Zack Cozart and catcher Devin Mesoraco. With free agency taking over, there is an update on these two players.

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Let’s start with Cozart (just because it rhymed). During a June 10 game against the Philadelphia Phillies, he tore two ligaments in his knee when running out a ground ball. It was a shame because he was having a good season. In a season where the shortstop position was bleak, Cozart hit nine home runs, 28 RBI and a .258 batting average in 53 games. If you were lucky, you were able to pick up his replacement Eugenio Suarez.

“Once I got my brace off, I’ve been gradually getting into my workouts,” Cozart said on Saturday during Redsfest according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. He was fitted for a new knee brace which will allow him to hit, take ground balls and move laterally when running. He should be 100 percent by the time Spring Training rolls around.

Cozart was undrafted in ESPN leagues last season. I can see it happening again in 2016 with the injury concerns. However, in deeper leagues, Cozart is a good middle infielder. Suarez was a good replacement, but this is Cozart’s job when next season begins.

Mesoraco had his breakout season last year, hitting .273 with 25 home runs and 80 RBI. He was voted on the NL All-Star team and finished 21st in the MVP voting. This season, however, was the complete opposite. In just 23 games, he hit .178 with two RBI. He had a left hip impingement, which means there is abnormal and wearing contact between the ball and socket of the hip-joint.

He made multiple attempts at rehab, but there was no progress and was forced to go under the knife. “I don’t foresee any reason I wouldn’t be able to go to Spring Training and do everything from Day 1,” Mesoraco said. “I’m basically doing everything other than catching drills at this point.”

Mesoraco was drafted in the 10th round as the third catcher overall. His 2014 season gave promise to an even better 2015, but injuries got in the way. I would put Mesoraco outside of my top 15 of catchers. The first month of the 2015 season did not look good, but who’s to say that it was because of injury.

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The Cincinnati Reds are taking the appropriate measures to make sure both Cozart and Mesoraco come back healthy. Yet, the team needs to do everything it can to have them back in their lineup for the 2016 season. The offense finished 26th in runs, 25th in batting average and 24th in slugging percentage.