Mesoraco Named Red's Minor League Player of the Year

Devin Mesoraco, who spent time with Single-A Lynchburg, Double-A Carolina, and Triple-A Louisville in 2010, received the 2010 Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award, which recognizes the Cincinnati Reds' Minor League Player of the Year. Mesoraco is the first catcher to ever receive the award. In 2010, he led all Reds farmhands in home runs with 26 and ranked among the organizational leaders in hitting (4th) and RBI (6th).

Mesoraco was transferred from Carolina to Louisville on August 17 and batted .231 with three home runs and 13 runs batted in with the Bats. He made his Triple-A debut on August 18 and completed a ninth inning comeback with a walk-off grand slam. It marked the first time that Louisville had won in walk-off grand slam fashion since June 14, 1994. In his first at-bat the next day, he launched a pitch over the left field seats for his second grand slam in as many at-bats, becoming the first player in franchise history to hit a grand slam on consecutive days, not to mention consecutive at-bats.

During the 2010 season, he set career-highs in games, hits, runs, triples, home runs and RBI.

The 2010 Minor League Hitter of the Year Award went to Dave Sappelt, who also spent time with Lynchburg, Carolina and Louisville. In 113 games at all levels, he batted .341 with 10 home runs, 74 runs batted in and 25 stolen bases. His .341 average led all Reds farmhands.

He was transferred to Louisville on August 12 and at the time of his promotion led the Southern League in average (.360). He batted .324 with a home run and eight runs batted in with Louisville.

LHP Jeremy Horst received with Minor League Community Service Award. Like Mesoraco and Sappelt, he spent parts of 2010 with Lynchburg, Carolina and Louisville, pitching in 44 games, compiling a 4-4 record with a 2.63 era. He was transferred from Carolina to Louisville on August 12 and went 1-0 with a 2.92 era.