Mesoraco ready to have surgery on left hip

NEW YORK -- After the Reds have departed New York to return home, catcher Devin Mesoraco will remain in the city to have surgery to repair the left hip impingement he has been dealing with most of the season.

Mesoraco's operation will be performed by hip specialist Dr. Bryan Kelly.

"I wouldn't say weird, I'd say ready to kind of move on and get it over with, get back working to getting back out on the field," Mesoraco said on Sunday morning at Citi Field.

Since Mesoraco last caught on April 12, he appeared in 17 games as a pinch-hitter or designated hitter. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 25. The Reds attempted to use him as a left fielder but the experiment did not last long. From June 8-10, he played three games in left field for Triple-A Louisville before the discomfort forced him to shut it down and elect for the surgery.

"At this point, I can't play and I'd say there's not a whole lot more I want to do other than play," Mesoraco said. "If I can't do that, whatever it takes to get me back out on the field, we've got to do. This is kind of the next step. I'm just ready to get back closer to getting back on the field."

A 2014 All-Star, Mesoraco batted .178/.275/.244 with two RBIs in 45 at-bats over 23 games.

Recovery and rehabilitation is expected to be at least four months for Mesoraco, who is scheduled to return to Cincinnati on Wednesday and immediately begin therapy.

The club and Mesoraco believe he will be ready to catch for the opening of the 2016 season, when the 27-year-old will be in the second year of a four-year, $28 million contract. He expected to begin his offseason program at the usual time.

"It certainly hasn't pushed back anything as far as working out, lifting," Mesoraco said. "I would expect that I will be moving around pretty good even at the end of the season, even to the point where I'll be able to do some running or stuff like that."