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Cedar Rapids Kernels

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Cedar Rapids Kernels
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassHigh-A (2021–present)
Previous classes
  • Class A (1934–1937, 1962–2020)
  • Class B (1896–1899, 1902–1909, 1920–1921, 1938–1942, 1950–1961)
  • Class C (1949)
  • Class D (1901, 1913–1917, 1922–1932)
LeagueMidwest League (1962–present)
DivisionWest Division
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
TeamMinnesota Twins (2013–present)
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (14)
  • 1897
  • 1906
  • 1922
  • 1925
  • 1930
  • 1937
  • 1940
  • 1941
  • 1942
  • 1958
  • 1988
  • 1992
  • 1994
  • 2023
Division titles (1)
  • 2023
First-half titles (2)
  • 2022
  • 2023
Team data
NameCedar Rapids Kernels (1993–present)
Previous names
  • Cedar Rapids Reds (1980–1992)
  • Cedar Rapids Giants (1975–1979)
  • Cedar Rapids Astros (1973–1974)
  • Cedar Rapids Cardinals (1965–1972)
  • Cedar Rapids Red Raiders (1963–1964)
  • Cedar Rapids Braves (1958–1962)
  • Cedar Rapids Raiders (1953–1957)
  • Cedar Rapids Indians (1950–1952)
  • Cedar Rapids Rockets (1949)
  • Cedar Rapids Raiders (1934–1942)
  • Cedar Rapids Bunnies (1904–1932)
  • Cedar Rapids Rabbits (1896–1903)
  • Cedar Rapids Canaries (1890–1891)
ColorsYellow, red, navy blue, green, white[1]
         
BallparkVeterans Memorial Stadium (2002–present)
Previous parks
Veterans Memorial Stadium (I) (1949–2001)
Belden Hill Park (1913–1942)[2]
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Cedar Rapids Ball Club, Inc.
General managerScott Wilson
ManagerBrian Dinkelman
Websitemilb.com/cedar-rapids

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and play their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Kernels are owned by Cedar Rapids Ball Club, Inc. (also known as Cedar Rapids Baseball Club, Inc.).[3][4][5]

Cedar Rapids baseball history

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Cedar Rapids first began play in 1890 and have played 110 seasons through 2015. The franchise has been a member of various leagues preceding the Midwest League. They have been a member of the Central Association (1949), Western League (1934–1937), Mississippi Valley League (1922–1932), Central Association (1913–1917), Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League (1901–1909, 1920–1921, 1938–1942, 1950–1961), Western Association (1896–1899), Eastern Iowa League (1895) and the Illinois–Iowa League (1890–1891).[6] The team also had numerous nicknames prior to joining the Midwest League: Cedar Rapids Braves (1958–1962), Cedar Rapids Raiders (1953–1957), Cedar Rapids Indians (1950–1952), Cedar Rapids Rockets (1949), Cedar Rapids Raiders (1934–1942), Cedar Rapids Red Raiders (1963–1964), Cedar Rapids Bunnies (1904–1932), Cedar Rapids Rabbits (1896–1903) and Cedar Rapids Canaries (1890–1891).[6]

When Cedar Rapids was awarded a Midwest League franchise in 1962, the franchise switched back to the Red Raiders (1962–1964) nickname. Subsequently, the team used the name of the major league franchise it affiliated with: the Cardinals (1965–1972), the Astros (1973–1974), the Giants (1975–1979), and the Reds (1980–1992). The team adopted the current "Kernels" nickname before the 1993 season. On the field, the franchise won Midwest League championships in 1988, 1992, 1994, and 2023.

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Kernels were organized into the High-A Central.[7] In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.[8]

Ballpark

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The team's first home ballpark was Belden Hill Park,[2] followed by the original Veterans Memorial Stadium,[9] which opened in 1949. In August 2000 voters approved a referendum to build a new ballpark adjacent to the old one, which was demolished after the 2001 season. The new Veterans Memorial Stadium was completed in time for the opening of the 2002 season, and the Kernels set a franchise attendance record of 196,066 in the new park's inaugural year.

Roster

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Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 51 Spencer Bengard
  •  4 Darren Bowen
  • 27 Jordan Carr
  • 35 Ricky Castro
  • 25 Tanner Hall
  • 30 Xander Hamilton
  • 40 John Klein
  • 37 Ty Langenberg
  • 45 Jeremy Lee
  • 32 Rafael Marcano
  • 46 Juan Mendez
  • 26 Samuel Perez
  • 19 Connor Prielipp
  • 16 Nolan Santos
  • 33 Gabriel Yanez

Catchers

  • 13 Nate Baez
  • 41 Matthew Clayton ~
  • 15 Poncho Ruiz

Infielders

Outfielders


Manager

Coaches

  • 47 Argenis Angulo (pitching)
  • 49 C.J Baker (hitting)
  • 31 Jonas Lovin (pitching)
  • 39 Jairo Rodriguez (hitting)

60-day injured list

  • 17 Miguelangel Boadas
  • 18 Danny De Andrade
  • -- Matt Gabbert (full season)
  • -- Alejandro Hidalgo

7-day injured list
* On Minnesota Twins 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated September 18, 2024
Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Midwest League
Minnesota Twins minor league players

Notable alumni

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Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

Casey Kotchman bats against the Clinton LumberKings, September 1, 2002

References

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  1. ^ "Cedar Rapids Kernels" (PDF). 2018 Media Guide. Cedar Rapids Kernels. 2018. p. 2. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Belden Hill Park Minor League History | Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2016-10-16. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  3. ^ "The Official Site of Minor League Baseball | MiLB.com Homepage". Milb.com. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  4. ^ Cedar Rapids Baseball Club [dead link]
  5. ^ "Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball Team in Cedar Rapids, IA - 950 Rockford Rd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA - Superpages.com". Superpages.
  6. ^ a b "Cedar Rapids, Iowa Encyclopedia - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  8. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  9. ^ "1949 Cedar Rapids Rockets Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.

Sources

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