Mesoraco missed 12 games with a shoulder strain. He was 1-for-7 with a grand slam in two rehab appearances with Louisville on Monday and Tuesday.
“I feel fine,” Mesoraco said. “I feel normal. This shoulder deal wasn’t a big issue. I just gave it some time to let it calm down, and I’ll get back out there.”
To make room for Mesoraco on the roster, the Reds optioned pitcher Lisalverto Bonilla to Triple-A Louisville. Bonilla has had four stints in the big leagues this season. He’s 1-3 with a 7.94 ERA in four starts and five relief appearances. In Louisville, he’s 3-4 with a 4.34 ERA in 13 games. He has made seven starts with the Bats.
Old friend: Former Reds reliever J.J. Hoover pitched two scoreless innings against the Reds on Tuesday. In his first season with the Diamondbacks, he has a 3.86 ERA in 32 appearances. Hoover had a 13.50 ERA in 18 appearances for the Reds in 2016.
“He’s a guy that even when he wasn’t performing,” Reds manager Bryan Price said, “he was such a high-character kid and hard worker and cared so much. We’ll always pull for him.”
Familiar face: The Reds play a two-game series in New York against the Yankees next week. That means they will face Todd Frazier for the first time since the Reds traded him to the Chicago White Sox in December 2015. The Yankees acquired Frazier from the White Sox on Tuesday.
Frazier, who grew up in New Jersey, hit .207 with 16 home runs for the White Sox. Last season, he hit .225 with 40 home runs.
“It’s a great opportunity for Todd to be back at home, closer to home, and be on a team that’s pushing for a playoff spot,” Price said. “There are no negatives that I see for Todd. He loves those opportunities. He’s kind of a prime-time guy. I think being on a winning club with some prime-time opportunities … I think he’ll thrive in that situation.”
New addition: Outfielder J.D. Martinez joined the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, one day after they acquired him from the Tigers in a trade for three players. Martinez hit .305 with 16 home runs with Detroit.
Prospect update: While the Reds wait for their 2017 top pick, Hunter Greene, to make his debut with the Billings Mustangs in the rookie league, their 2016 top pick continues to perform well.
Nick Senzel is hitting .306 with two home runs in 23 games for Double-A Pensacola. He hit .305 with four home runs in 62 games with Single-A Daytona before being promoted.
Next game: Luis Castillo (1-2, 3.41) makes his sixth start for the Reds in the 12:35 p.m. series finale Thursday. Taijuan Walker (6-4, 3.61) starts for the Diamondbacks.
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