CINCINNATI -- After he missed most of last season with a hip injury, Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is now facing the specter of losing most of 2016, too. On Monday, Mesoraco was placed on the 15-day disabled list with another serious injury -- a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Surgery is a possibility, which would mean Mesoraco would miss the rest of the season.
"We're just kind of weighing all the options," Mesoraco said. "Whether it's something I want to try and go out there and grind through and maybe possibly hurt it more, or to get it done and basically miss the rest of the year. Neither decision is any good."
Mesoraco underwent an MRI exam Monday morning and team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek confirmed the injury.
"I think it's just from hitting," Mesoraco said. "I don't think it was one instance. I think it was just from swinging."
Over 16 games this season, Mesoraco was batting .140/.218/.160 with no homers and one RBI.
When Mesoraco first suffered what was called a left hip impingement last season, he put off surgery by doing therapy and trying to play because he was told he could not do more damage. He finally had the season-ending operation June 29 to repair a torn labrum in the hip.
A similar situation is before Mesoraco again, with one major difference.
"Doc said if I were to go back out there and try to grind through it, it could get worse," Mesoraco said. "I could do further damage. I would say at this point we're trying to get a little more information and go from there."
The roster move is retroactive to Thursday since Mesoraco last appeared in a game Wednesday. Ramon Cabrera was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to take his place. Tucker Barnhart will move up to a primary role behind the plate but it's still another injury for the club that has left manager Bryan Price shorthanded and frustrated.
"[Mesoraco] went through the hip surgery and was such an unbelievable prolific offseason worker to get ready to come in and help us," Price said. "He wants nothing more to do than be a part of our ballclub and an impactful piece. We say it all the time, but we're getting tired of saying it, someone else will come in and pick up the slack."
Cabrera, who batted .367 for the Reds last season as a first-time September callup, was batting .259 in 15 games for Louisville this season.