Cedar Rapids Kernels

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 Kernels
Founded in 1890 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Class	High-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)
League	Midwest League (1962–present)
Division	West Division
Previous leagues	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) Illinois–Iowa League (1890–1891)
Major league affiliations
Team	Minnesota Twins (2013–present)
Previous teams	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (1993–2012) Cincinnati Reds (1980–1992) San Francisco Giants (1975–1979) Houston Astros (1973–1974) St. Louis Cardinals (1965–1972) Cincinnati Reds (1963–1964) Milwaukee Braves (1958–1962) Brooklyn Dodgers (1955–1957) Chicago Cubs (1953–1954) Cleveland Indians (1950–1952) Cleveland Indians (1939–1942) St. Louis Cardinals (1936–1938) Cincinnati Reds (1932)
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
Name	Cedar 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)
Colors	Yellow, red, navy blue, green, white[1]
Ballpark	Veterans 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 manager	Scott Wilson
Manager	Brian Dinkelman
Website	milb.com/cedar-rapids

Cedar Rapids baseball history

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

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

Cedar Rapids Kernels roster

• v
• t
• e

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 22 Rubel Cespedes 20 Kaelen Culpepper 23 Rayne Doncon 11 Kevin Maitán  1 José Salas 38 Rixon Wingrove Outfielders 24 Tyler Dearden 21 Gabriel González 44 Kyle Hess 50 Agustin Ruiz  2 Misael Urbina		Manager 12 Brian Dinkelman 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

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

• Lou Boudreau (1938) Inducted, (1970)
• Trevor Hoffman (1991) Inducted, (2018)
• John McGraw (1891) Inducted, (1937)
• Ted Simmons (1967) Inducted, (2020)

Notable alumni

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

• Barney Pelty (1903)
• Bill Wambsganss (1913)
• Bill Zuber (1932)
• Allie Reynolds (1940–41) 5 x MLB All-Star; 1952 AL ERA Leader
• Rocky Colavito (1952) 6 x MLB All-Star; 1959 AL Home Run Leader; 1965 AL RBI Leader
• John Roseboro (1955) 4 x MLB All-Star
• Denis Menke (1958–59) 2 x MLB All-Star
• Tony Cloninger (1959)
• Tommie Aaron (1960)
• Ron Hunt (1960–61) 2 x MLB All-Star
• Nate Colbert (1965) 3 x MLB All-Star
• Pedro Borbon (1966)
• Jerry Reuss (1967) 2 x MLB All-Star
• Ken Reitz (1969) GG; MLB All-Star
• Bob Forsch (1970)
• Jerry Mumphrey (1972) MLB All-Star
• Larry Herndon (1972)
• Joe Sambito (1974) MLB All-Star
• Bob Brenly (1977) MLB All-Star; MGR: 2001 World Series Champions – Arizona Diamondbacks
• Chili Davis (1978) 3 x MLB All-Star
• Rob Deer (1979)
• Eric Davis (1982) 2 x MLB All-Star
• Paul O'Neill (1982) 5 x MLB All-Star
• Chris Sabo (1983) 3 x MLB AS; 1988 NL Rookie of the Year
• Kal Daniels (1983)
• Kurt Stillwell (1984) MLB All-Star
• Rob Dibble (1985) 2 x MLB All-Star
• Reggie Sanders (1990) MLB All-Star
• Bengie Molina (1994–95)
• Jason Dickson (1995) MLB All-Star
• Jarrod Washburn (1995)
• Ramón Ortiz (1997)
• Ken Hill (1998) MLB All-Star
• John Lackey (2000) MLB All-Star; 2007 AL ERA Leader
• Bobby Jenks (2001) 2 x MLB All-Star
• Mike Napoli (2001–02) MLB All-Star
• Ervin Santana (2002) 2 x MLB All-Star
• Casey Kotchman (2002)
• Jeff Mathis (2002)
• Joel Peralta (2002)
• Joe Saunders (2002) MLB All-Star
• Alberto Callaspo (2003)
• Erick Aybar (2003) MLB All-Star
• Howie Kendrick (2004) MLB All-Star; 2019 World Series Champion – Washington Nationals
• Sean Rodriguez (2004)
• Alexi Casilla (2004–05)
• Miguel González (2005)
• Nick Adenhart (2006) Died Age 22
• Darren O'Day (2006) MLB All-Star
• Mark Trumbo (2006–07) MLB All-Star
• Jordan Walden (2008) MLB All-Star
• Mike Trout (2009–10) 8 x MLB All-Star; 2012 AL Rookie of the Year; 3 x AL Most Valuable Player (2014, 2016, 2019)
• Garrett Richards (2010)
• Jean Segura (2010) MLB All-Star
• Patrick Corbin (2010) 2 x MLB All-Star; 2019 World Series Champion – Washington Nationals
• Mike Clevinger (2012)
• Byron Buxton (2013)
• Joe Mauer (2014) 6 x MLB All-Star; 3 x AL Batting Title (2006, 2008, 2009); 2009 AL Most Valuable Player
• Ricky Nolasco (2015)

References

1. "Cedar Rapids Kernels" (PDF). 2018 Media Guide. Cedar Rapids Kernels. 2018. p. 2. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
2. "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. "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

• Dinda, Joel (2003), "Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the Midwest League"
• Koolbeck, Mike, "History of Cedar Rapids Professional Baseball", published in the Cedar Rapids Kernels Souvenir Program, 2001

External links

• Official website
• Media related to Cedar Rapids Kernels at Wikimedia Commons