Cincinnati catcher Devin Mesoraco has done everything he can to prove he’s ready to play in the major leagues.

He’s coming off two outstanding years in the minors, risen to the top of the Reds’ prospect list and acquitted himself well behind in the plate in 13 September starts in 2011.

The next and final step is the big one: Success in the big leagues.

“You hope he’s ready,” Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said. “You don’t know until he gets a chance.”

Mesoraco will get the chance, although Baker stopped short of declaring him the No. 1 catcher.

“I haven’t seen enough of him,” Baker said. “He’s one of two. Eventually, he’s going to be No. 1.”

Baker used Ramon Hernandez and Ryan Hanigan almost equally in 2011. Hernandez started 76 games, Hanigan 71.

Hernandez signed with Colorado in the offseason. How the playing time will be split this year remains to be seen. But Hanigan, 31, has played well the past two years. He hit .300 in with five home runs and 40 RBI in 2010 and .267 with six home runs and 31 RBI in ’11. In both years, his catcher’s ERA (3.36 in 2010, 3.97 in ’11) was better than Hernandez.

“There are certain guys who work better with Hanigan than Mesoraco,” Baker said.

Mesoraco, the team’s No. 1 pick in 2007 draft, had his breakout year in 2010. He hit a combined .302 with 26 home runs and 75 RBI at three minor-league levels.

He was hitting .289 with 15 homers and 71 RBI in 120 games in 2011 at Triple-A Louisville when he was called up. He got a good taste of the majors, but still has work to do.

“He’s got a lot to learn in a short period of time,” Baker said. “You hope he can be (like San Francisco’s Buster Posey. You don’t see a whole bunch of Buster Poseys. But he also has Hanigan as a tandem.

“If things don’t work, how long do you stick with Mesoraco?”

Mesoraco is seizing his chance in camp.

“In the past, I was the young guy,” he said. “I did whatever I could to help the older guys out, make their life easier. Now I feel like I’m one of those guys. If I want to catch somebody, (Johnny) Cueto or (Mat) Latos, I can work with them that day. I’m lot more relaxed. I’m more comfortable being around these guys.

“Before, it was like I really haven’t done anything here. But, now, I think after being up there in September and what I’ve done the past couple of years, I belong here.”

That time in September helped.

“In the past, I was always trying to impress someone or do something special in the spring,” he said. “Now, I know where my place is and I can focus on what I have to do to be ready April 5.”

Mesoraco, 23, impressed Baker with his focus after the call-up.

“The one thing I like is when he came up he was more concerned about the ERA when he’s catching and the score of the game than offense, which has probably been his strong point,” Baker said.

Mesoraco will be judged mostly by how he catches and works with the pitchers, but Baker won’t discount offense.

“It depends on how much he struggles and how much you need offense,” Baker said. “You’re talking hypotheticals. We’ve got to get there first. If a guy’s a great catcher and he’s an offensive player, he’s Johnny Bench, Gary Carter, Pudge Rodriguez. Where are they at?”

The Hall of Fame.

“Exactly,” he said.

Mesoraco is a long way from that. But coming off two good offensive years, he still sees catching as his first priority.

“No doubt,” he said. “Any time I strap on the gear, that’s my main focus. I’m almost in control of someone else’s career when they’re out on the mound. I try to help them out as much as possible. That’s part of the game I enjoy– the pitch calling. I’ve had a lot of great teachers coming up.”

Mesoraco’s role model in camp drives home that point. He wants to be like Corky Miller, who is a career .188 hitter. But Mesoraco learned a lot from Miller at Louisville in 2011.

“Being with Corky was a blessing,” Mesoraco said. “Everyone wants to throw to Corky. I try to emulate what he does. Hopefully at some point, guys will want to throw to me.”

John Fay has been the Reds beat writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer since 2001.