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Fantasy Baseball 2015 Sleeper: C Devin Mesoraco

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By @BPiv_Sports

Devin Mesoraco

Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Sleepers and busts are a big part of fantasy baseball. Trying to find a player late in drafts with some value or avoiding a player takes a lot of time to research. Luckily, there are those who do the research for you. Last season, there were a lot of players who broke out and became household names. This season looks to be more of the same, and one of those players will be Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco.

The Reds and Mesoraco agreed on a four-year, $28 million extension. After the 2014 season he had, it was worth it. He finished with a .273 average, 25 home runs and 80 RBIs. He led all catchers in home runs and was 21st among hitters. He played in just 114 games. Protected by Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce, Mesoraco was able to drive in plenty of runs for the Reds.

Now at age 26, Mesoraco will begin his career as a full-time catcher. The Reds have enough confidence in him, and he has the talent to be a top catcher for years to come.

With the increase in playing time, Mesoraco will be able to improve his stats. However, some experts believe that his HR/FB rate will drop, resulting in fewer home runs. He finished the 2014 season with a 20.5 HR/FB percentage and had a HR/FB of 10 percent before last year. Only four hitters were able to go back-to-back seasons with a HR/FB rate over 20 percent, so the odds are not in Mesoraco’s favor.

Despite the lack of science and statistics behind him, Mesoraco will have a great 2015 campaign. You should expect him to hit north of 20 home runs. The lineup is built with guys who can hit the ball to all areas of the field. My projections for him are .263 with 21 home runs and 83 RBIs.

Mesoraco is currently ranked as the third-best catcher. But with doubt of him able to replicate his 2014 numbers, his fantasy stock may drop a bit. This will allow you to draft him in the eighth or ninth round and finish the season with a top-three catcher.

Bill Pivetz is a fantasy sports blogger for Rant Sports. He also contributes to the MLB, NFL and Pro Wrestling sections. Follow him on Twitter @BPiv_Sports.

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